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Art Nouveau
/ˌɑːt nuːˈvoʊ/
DESIGN STYLES & MOVEMENTSbeginner
Definition
An ornamental style of the 1890s–1910s that drew inspiration from natural forms — flowing plant stems, insect wings, female figures — and applied them as decoration to buildings, furniture, and graphic design. Art Nouveau was a deliberate attempt to create a modern style unconnected to historical precedent.
Example
The Casa Batlló in Barcelona by Antoni Gaudí (1906) covers its facade with bone-like columns and a roof of shimmering mosaic tiles that evoke a dragon's scales.
Key Figures
- — Antoni Gaudí — Casa Batlló
- — Victor Horta — Hôtel Tassel Brussels
- — Hector Guimard — Paris Métro entrances