

I think the boxes are art nouveau because they hit on a few strong points that describe and personify Art Nouveau. Firstly, they have a strong ornamentation based in nature. This is shown through the use of flowers and fields. The colour schemes are quite basic and pastel; the colours are muted but still strong and rich in tone. There are faint elements of abstraction in the shadow like quality of the flowers and the suggestion of the overall shape of each flower etc. These boxes have a very delicate appearance and are very feminine in nature; there are no sharp lines anywhere and every aspect of the boxes are suggestions of reality which I think is very Art Nouveau.
Although the stained glass window attached was made in the 1980s, it whispers Art Nouveau. The first thing that comes to mind of A.N. is the use of glass. I know I know it IS stained glass, but glass was a very popular medium for the AN style because it is so delicate and feminine. Secondly, the colour of glass is muted down jewel tones such as emerald, diamond and amethyst. The scene is a sort of abstract scene of what looks to be a curling vine coming out of a flower. Now, as with most stained glass, the image appears kind of obscure, but I think this piece was purposefully created that way. The lines are also very curvy and this image is no way harsh or masculine, again giving nod to the feminine form as was so intentional in the Art Nouveau movement.
My last piece is a lamp from Home Depot. This screams Art Nouveau and the designer likely took a ton of inspiration from this movement. The base of the lamp is extremely curvy and, one might say voluptuous; very much like the lusted after female form of the time. The colours in the glass are full of jewel tones on a very pastel muted background. The colours make one think that this might be a representation of the outdoors, and there's an ongoing repetition in pattern all around the vase. The very top part of the lampshade also looks like leaves constructed in a circle. This vase is definitely the epitome of contemporary Art Nouveau for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment