ART NOUVEAU

Art Nouveau developed as a style during the 1880’s, with artists taking inspiration from nature to create beautiful designs with flowing lines which intertwined over the painted surface.  The designs were quite stylized, but very fluid and graceful with an almost organic feel.  Female figures were represented in a pre-Raphaelite style, with draped garments and long, flowing hair.  The style was influenced by the earlier Arts and Crafts movement, but in contrast many of the wares were mass-produced.  The work of Alphonse Mucha and Aubrey Beardsley typify the artwork of this style..