When we look at the history of design in art, the late 19th and the whole of the 20th century have quite the story to tell. It was a period of constant flux & change, with many new styles that defied the ones that came just before them. And, in one way or another, all of those styles are beginning to make a comeback, even today.
While they were striking and different in their time, these styles still manage to retain their evergreen appeal. In other words, even the contemporary man can enjoy them with as much passion as the people a century or so ago.
One such style that everyone instantly recognises is Art Deco. The name itself makes us instantly think of jazz, the prohibition, expressionist theatre and the early days of the Great Depression. It was a time of great inter-war prosperity, but also a lot of uncertainty. Furthermore, it was a time when artists tended to move away from purely aesthetic ideas and aimed to combine both beauty and practicality in art. In other words, Art Deco was purposefully modern since its conception, which is why it’s so appealing – even now.
But what is Art Deco? How would you best describe it to someone who’s completely new to the movement? Well, this post is here to help you do just that.
The origins of Art Deco: a brief history
First and foremost, we should point out that this style did not originally go by the name Art Deco. When it first appeared, most people simply called it the modern style. In its later phases, during the mid and late 1930s, it had the name ‘New Moderne’ or Streamline Moderne. English art historian, Bevis Hillier, would use the new name in 1968 in his book Art Deco of the 20s and 30s, which popularised the term. However, even he noted that the name was in use several years before he published his book.
Art Deco is short for Arts Décoratifs, ‘decorative art’ in French. The name comes from the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris, France. Many people tend to confuse this style with other popular movements, such as Art Nouveau, the Bauhaus School and Art Moderne. However, this style is quite different. In fact, it came out as a direct reaction to the Art Nouveau tendencies that were popular in Europe and North America at the time.
Characteristics of Art Deco
Art Deco embraced modernity at the time. The style focused on geometric and angular shapes, sharp angles and bright colours. Furthermore, it used new, artificial and expensive materials to its advantage. A typical piece from that era would contain aluminium, lacquer, plastic and stainless steel alongside ebony, ivory and moulded glass. Exotic materials such as zebra and shark skins also became popular fixtures.
The movement took inspiration from Greco-Roman Classicism, as well as other cultures around the world (Aztec, Mayan, Babylonian, Egyptian etc). Triangles and trapezoids dominated, as well as stepped forms, chevron patterns and the sunburst motif. Since the design was so practical and simple it remained popular until the outbreak of WWII. However, while the style itself was simple, it wasn’t minimal… or even minimalist. In fact, the artists and designers often chose elaborate, interesting solutions to design problems and came up with fascinating ideas.
Examples of Art Deco
Art Deco is a style that, once you see it, you’ll be able to recognise everywhere. We’ll list some of the most prominent examples of Art Deco design in the sections below.
Architecture
Most people tend to think of architectural design when Art Deco is mentioned. In fact, the architects of the time embraced the movement, as it fit so well with the contemporary lifestyle. Every type of building had an Art Deco touch to it; from garages to cafés, from cinemas to airports. However, one type of building seemed to fit the style perfectly – skyscrapers. Indeed, it was as if skyscrapers and Art Deco were made for each other.
By far the most famous example of this type of architecture is the Chrysler Building in New York City. It has everything; from smooth, shiny surfaces to sharp edges and ornate, geometric details. It also made excellent use of modern materials. More than anything, the Chrysler showed that a concrete building can be an aesthetic marvel. Other examples of buildings constructed in a similar style include:
- Chanin Building (New York)
- The Empire State Building (New York)
- Houston City Hall (Texas)
- Cincinnati Union Terminal (Ohio)
- Kansas City Power and Light Building (Missouri)
Interestingly, the creators of the 1990s television show Batman: The Animated Series chose Art Deco as the dominant style for Gotham City. In fact, many people who decorate their homes in this style today took their inspiration from watching the series as children back in the early ’90s.
Furniture
Art Deco furniture followed the same patterns and motifs as the architecture of that time. Every piece had sharp geometric, symmetrical designs and patterns. Furthermore, the use of striking colours such as bright green, red and yellow was common. Each piece evoked progress and development, keeping up with the technological boom of the time.
In terms of materials, designers experimented quite a bit. They’d use hard, natural materials like wood and leather – all to great effect. And they also experimented with manufactured materials such as aluminium and steel. In fact, you could find interesting furniture that contained heavy metal frames and cushions of natural leather. It was the contrast that attracted people most of all.
In addition, each chair, wardrobe, stool, shelf etc. looked practical, thanks to the modern materials. An item had aesthetic beauty, but it was also one that you could use in everyday activities.
Visual arts and graphic design
Magazine covers, adverts, movie posters, illustrations and other forms of visual art all embraced Art Deco with passion. Visual artists looked for different ways to emphasise the modern spirit of the ’20s & ’30s, with rectangular and square shapes, angular fonts and bold colour palettes.
Sexuality, or at least a celebration of the human form, was also a big part of their works – usually expressed using geometric, modern depictions.
The main motif, however, was moving forward boldly and with pride. Each piece would experiment with straight lines to emphasise the speed of the age, as well as the smooth, modern edges of contemporary buildings, furniture and even vehicles. Because, let’s not forget, the automobile industry was also booming at the time, and the cars reflected the style of the age.
In conclusion
Of course, there’s a lot more to the Art Deco movement than what we’ve listed in the paragraphs above. With that in mind, we encourage you to explore further. In fact, you may even want to introduce some of these Art Deco ideas to your own home. After all, it’s a style that will always feel fresh and modern, in any age and in any home.
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