1920s Art Deco Research Paper

During the 1920s, society experienced rapid cultural and technological changes that led to a society driven by consumerism and wealth. This obsession luxury and power is shown in art deco, a style that integrated ancient natural forms with graphic design to create bold art, architecture, and design. In art deco architecture and interior design, graphic design, like typography, plays an important role because it makes traditional motifs modern. The style is characterized by its sophisticated and luxurious spirit that celebrates artistry and progress. The style was implemented in New York City, America’s arts and culture center, during the later 1920s and early 1930s, and it has a unique look due to the Great Depression and also America’s need

Art deco was first introduced in 1925 at one of the most notable world fairs of the twentieth century, the Exposition Internationale Des Art Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. The exposition had 130 pavilions and galleries from twenty different nations and several other French cities showcasing the most advanced technological and artistic innovations in art and design. The exposition was originally scheduled for 1916, but it was postponed due to World War I. Because of this, several of the products are reaction to the art nouveau style of the years before WWI. The promoted style relied on graphic design principles unlike art nouveau, and it was highly geometric in its use of asymmetrical patterns and shapes. Art deco could be seen in the Paris’s pavilion design, which displayed a mural on its exterior, and the promotional posters, which showed a bold art deco typeface and graphic design (See Fig. 1 and 2). Reviewers of the time described the exposition as a “surrealist, carnival-like setting” and a “cubist dream city.” However, few critics described the world fair as a “mad and colorful conglomeration.” Despite its criticism, the new style was widely accepted, and around five million people visited the popular exposition during its six-month run. Fig.1: Paris Pavillion at 1925 World Fair Fig 2. Promotional

American art deco differed from the Europeans because Americans approached the style with a need of being traditional yet modern. The combination of neoclassical motives with indigenous designs created a distinct art deco style for the states. Even though American art deco drew from historic traditions, it still had a modern look because of its industrial influence. One major historical influence was ancient Egyptian art. In 1922 the discover of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb occurred, which led to a new interest in Ancient Egyptian motifs like strong coloring, pyramids, and stepped forms. In contrast, designers were influenced by technological advancements and several major art movements of the early 20th century, like Cubism, Fauvism and Constructivism. Mixing planar shapes and three dimensional forms created a “sacred geometry” that was unique to the style. By combining Ancient Egyptian and Mayan art elements, like ziggurats and wild jungle plants, with modern graphic patterns and shapes, design achieved an “exciting