Celebrating a century of elaborate structures and questionable values: The Art Deco era thrives in its centennial.
Art Deco: Bold, Bold, Bold!
Art Deco, the eye-catching, bold style that burst onto the scene in the 1920s, wasn't just about slick buildings and clean lines. No siree! It was a love affair between architecture, fashion, and design.
Paris, our darling city of love, first shimmied onto the dance floor with Art Deco in the 1910s, but it truly sizzled at the Paris World's Fair of 1925. This shindig showcased all things modern, and Art Deco took the spotlight as the cool kid on the block—a trimmed-down, bustling response to the intricate, romantic, and oh-so-wearisome Art Nouveau that ruled the roost before the Great War.
But Art Deco wasn't all about skinny ties and sharp angles. It was a time to dance, to deck ourselves out in style, and to dance some more! So let's skirt through the decades and have a gander at this fanciful movement that's still causing a stir today. 流ค Knock, knock! Who's there? Time for a rundown on Art Deco!
Enter Art Deco!
What we now call Art Deco was first christened by the cheeky chap Bevis Hillier in 1968. This wunderkind of design awarded the style with the snappy name that's etched in our memory banks. But where did it all begin?
The Paris World's Fair of 1925 was the tipping point for this fabulous phenomenon. Held in the French capital, it showcased the latest in sleek design—a deliberate move away from the whimsy and ornamentation of Art Nouveau. Art Deco was all about symmetry, geometric shapes, and that indefinable quality we call "modernity". But fear not! It was far from dull. Oh no!
Oh, Paris!
If you fancy a eyeball peek at Art Deco in all its glory, Paris is where it's at. The Palais de Tokyo and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées are just two tasty morsels on the buffet of Art Deco goodies.
Brussels keeps it real, too. Check out the bold municipal buildings such as the Villa Empain, the Basilica of Koekelberg, and elements of Stoclet Palace. Then there's London's Savoy Hotel, which was initially an Art Nouveau darling but got the Art Deco makeover of the century in 1925. And don't forget the imposing Merchandise Mart in Chicago—whew! It opened in 1930 and still sits there, all four million square feet of its Art Deco grandeur.
Just a Spoonful of Geometry
So what precisely defines this dapper dance partner? Art Deco is a bit like a beautiful, sumptuous dish—complicated to prepare (though less so when you have access to all those Art Nouveau leftovers!), delicious to consume, and rather difficult to define.
Emma Bastin, historian and the treasurer of the Art Deco Society in the UK, insists that defines "is a tricky word". It's a melting pot of influences—from ancient Egypt and Greece to the cutting-edge art of the early 20th century—all wrapped up in a package of mass commercialization, craftsmanship, and the use of new-fangled materials. And let's admit it, it's pretty hard to pin down a style that emerged at roughly the same time in various European countries!
Then again, it's hard to miss Art Deco when you see it. It's got clean lines, bold colors, and simple, pared-back decoration—not to mention repetitive motifs like zig-zags, sunrays, and human figures. It screams modernity and glamour, from the glitz of Gatsby to the bright, stylish interiors of luxury hotels. Take a peek at those vibrant Art Deco posters, and you'll see why they're still popular as art today.
Art Deco: From Paris to the World
In a way, Art Deco was less a movement than a mood, an era, or a collective cultural explosion. It was a response to a changing society—one that's still reverberating through our lives today.
As technology advanced, Art Deco embraced the sleek style of ocean liners, aircraft, and trains. New materials like chromium plating and steel made it possible to build taller and higher, with Portland stone and gilt lettering becoming hallmarks of the style. And the urban expansion urged the creation of more buildings, providing even more opportunities to showcase Art Deco's bold and beautiful style.
References
- MoMA: Art Deco: Designing of Luxury
- The Art Story: Art Deco Overview
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Art Deco: Celebrating the Machine Age
- Vogue: The Art Deco Movement
- The Art of Sugar: Art Deco Fashion
Art Deco: At Your Service
- A Symphony of Science and Style: Find out how the industrial revolution inspired the intricate beauty of Art Deco design.
- The Fashion Frontline: Discover how Art Deco fashion showcased the era's love of glamour and modernity.
- Rise of the Robot: Uncover how mechanical innovations, like the Model T Ford, shaped Art Deco aesthetics.
- Art Deco Through the Ages: Trace how Art Deco's style and influence evolved over the decades and continues to impact contemporary design today.
- In the realm of interior design, Art Deco's geometric shapes, bold colors, and clean lines embodied a modern lifestyle and were integrated into home-and-garden decor, creating a stunning backdrop for a new era of glamour and luxury.
- The Art Deco movement, a symphony of science and style, extended beyond architecture and fashion, transforming the interiors of homes and gardens to reflect the bold and dynamic spirit of the era, elevating household living to an art form.
