Art Nouveau was an artistic movement which was popular around the turn of the century, form 1890 to 1905, short lived but made a significant mark in the design world. It infiltrated it's stylistic leanings in the field of not only art, but architecture, garment design, typography, furniture, and all manner of aesthetic artisan practice. Nouveau, the french term for " new art", is based upon organic curving lines found in nature and highly stylized expressions of this motif. The term whiplash, was often employed to describe the extravagant curves and lines of the forms. It was most often utilized in the print world in book production as well as that of poster art and advertising. The typography was often ornate and unique to any previous styles.
Alphonse Mucha,(July 1860- July 1939), was a Czech artist known for his elaborate and beautiful posters primarily designed for French advertisements, as he spent his latter life living in Paris.
Mucha's work was exhibited at the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris which allowed him an international exposure and frequent imitation. He felt his works were created to communicate a spiritual message of beauty and nothing more. I have been fortunate to have had the original prints I feature on this blog, they have long since been sold, but I never fail to be nostalgic about their beauty which once hung upon my living room walls.
The Gyptis Protis
Poster created for the commemoration of the foundation of Marseilles, by Dellepiane, David ,(1886-1932), is a poster still in my possession. It is a work based upon the Greek Myth of 600BC of the Gyptis Protis, a love story about a king Nanus's daughter Gyptis and her choice of husband determined by whom she offers water in a beautiful vessel, for whom she chooses Protis a young Phocaean sailor. The typography is very bold and highly indicative of the period, with elaborations and designs true to the curving forms of the Nouveau era. I treasure this work above all.
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