Art Nouveau, the Prairie Style and other styles seen during the 19th century all led up to the modern movement. At the beginning of the 20th century, Germany and France were the homes of Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier, all who contributed greatly to the start of modernism. As with other previous design movements, the term "modernism" can be used to describe many other art forms - not just design.
Walter Gropius
Gropius contributed greatly to the start of modernism through his office furniture designs. The materials he used, the methods of fabrication, design, and function were all different than anything that had been seen before. He used very honest materials - such as metal tubing and plywood - and applied very rectilinear designs to his creations. To the left is a view of a staircase in the Bauhaus where you can see these ideals being utilized in the space. It is simple, but powerful at the same time. Gropius formed the Bauhaus and created a new educational program that merged many fine and applied arts together.
Mies van der Rohe
Like Gropius, van der Rohe also appreciated simplicity in design. The commission of the Barcelona Pavilion, part of which can be seen on the left, put van der Rohe on the map very quickly. Unlike other designers of this time period, he enjoyed using luxurious materials in his his designs. The Barcelone Pavilion used a lot of expensive wood and marble. Van der Rohe is also widely known for the Barcelona Chair.
Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier is an icon of modernism, his name is known by many for his unique ideas and designs. On the left is an image of the Ronchamp, a Catholic chapel and one of the most important buildings of the 20th century. Le Corbusier is also known for urban design. He desired to improve the cities in which he lived. He made use of modern materials and used mass production as a method of construction.
Current Applications
Above are two residential designs that are inspired by Le Corbusier.
Super Great Videos that You Should Watch
Le Corbusier | https://youtu.be/4A07NnUu6x0
Van der Rohe | https://youtu.be/Z8VdhVJQm9U
Peer Reviews
Lisa | I really enjoyed that Lisa focused solely on Bauhaus for her blog. It was really interesting to be able to learn more about the design and why it is so important to this period.
Kiera | Kiera did a really good job of overviewing this design period. It was helpful to be able to read her blog in order to tie all of the information that we have learned so far together.
Like with the start of many new movements, the Art Nouveau style was created to escape previous design ways of thinking. By integrating art with the organic world around us, the Art Nouveau style was created. Although the movement was quite short, it left a lasting impression on design today.
From the 17th to 19th century, most of the academic system deemed art mediums such as paintings and sculpture more important than the applied arts. Artists in the Art Nouveau movement wanted to try and shift this belief. They attempted this through good craftsmanship and assuring that each and every part of an interior was meticulously thought out and could be discussed using the same vocabulary as one might use while talking about a sculpture or painting. It is interesting to think about if some of this societal beliefs regarding applied arts, such as design, are still relevant today. The work created in the Art Nouveau period, however, definitely helped close the gap during that time.
Art Nouveau Design Examples
Above you can see three different design examples from the Art Nouveau Movement. On the left is a view of an interior hall, with very decorative and organic movements. The image comes from the Art Nouveau Exhibit in the Musee D'Orsay. In the middle is a carved mahogany throne chair from 1905. It's back resembles butterfly wings and incorporates detailed elements in all parts of the chair. On the right is an exterior view of the entrance of the Lavirotte Building in Paris. The facade is very unique to the Art Nouveau styles.
Current Applications
Shown above are modern applications of the Art Nouveau style. On the left you can see, an exterior of the building, in the center an interior of a bar, and on the right a residential staircase. All three examples show very organic movement and use of wood that is common to the Art Nouveau style.
Super Great Videos That You Should Watch
The Vienna Secession - Architectural Shots | https://youtu.be/R8e0uQXXNmA
Art Nouveau - Overview | https://youtu.be/P4luPnObQYo
Peer Reviews
Becca | I really liked that Becca focused solely on Antoni Gaudi in her blog. It was awesome to be able to learn more about him specifically. The information also easily connected back to the main points that we talked about in class.
Haley | Haley's overview was really helpful to bring all the information that we have learned together. I also really enjoyed her modern application pictures. The style was overdone, but it was still recognizable as Art Nouveau which is perfect for current designs.
