One of the most common questions I'm asked is: What is Art Deco Style? In essence, Art Deco is a modern interpretation of the design style that came before it, Art Nouveau. So it may be useful to define it by comparing it to Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau Art Nouveau came into being as a response to the practicality of the Industrial Revolution. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, society was mainly occupied with the production of consumer goods. Less attention was focused on beauty. If something was not functional and practical, it was basically worthless, regardless of how much enjoyment it provided. However, whenever you focus on one aspect of something at the expense of another, the other comes back stronger than ever! And that certainly …show more content…
Attention began to move away from the lifeless factories to the lively, vibrant natural environment. Artists started to integrate naturalistic symbols into their artwork - dragonflies, insects, flowers, birds, flowing water, etc. Curved edges and scrolls became extremely fashionable as they evoked a natural, more pure feeling. Furthermore, the spotlight was back on beauty and ornament. Everything from jewelry to fashion to furniture was embellished - practicality was out and beauty was back in vogue! Art Nouveau to Art Deco The Deco movement followed in Art Nouveau's tracks in that it also revered beauty, but it's interpretation of it was slightly more 'modern'. The Machine Age was in full swing at this time and utility became an important requirement again. The scroll-like, natural symbols of Nouveau were substituted for angular, geometric symbols like zigzags and chevrons. Utility was still significant, but not at the cost of ornament and beauty. Art Deco Style Deco style is sleek and symmetrical. Geometric shapes and bold bright colours like yellow, purple, ruby and turquoise are the epitome of this glamorous and elegant