In 2023, Will We Fall Back In Love With Sexy, Slinky Art Nouveau?
Abstract
Popular between 1890 and 1910 during the Belle Epoque period, the short-lived style quickly became wildly popular as a reaction the academic art, eclecticism and historicism of 19th century architecture and decoration. The novel aesthetic of Art Nouveau wrapped modernism in the garb of pleasure, instead of in the hair shirt of social obligation and moral uplift. The antiestablishment quality of Art Nouveau made it a natural for the style's first revival during the countercultural 1960s. Flowers, curves, peacocks, updates of Art Nouveau images from the past-dialed up with "Eye-vibrating" colors-made the perfect visual accompaniment for the acid-flavored Romanticism that took root during the Vietnam era. Art Nouveau became the house style for the counterculture of the mid 20th century. Today, Art Nouveau appears to be making another comeback, heralded by a series of museum exhibitions and books. Whether Art Nouveau is out of style or not, we never quite get enough of those sexy lines that speak of constant movement, uncertain boundaries and inevitable change.
