Art Nouveau

By Norbert Wolf

"The Art Nouveau movement covered it all--decorative arts, architecture, fashion, dance, advertising and more--and this book seeks to restore the movement's prominence in the discussion of modern art." —Los Angeles Times

"The book explores the origins of art nouveau, possible theories as to its demise, and the all-important quandary that has plagued art historians for over a century: Is art nouveau a true artistic period?" —The Washington Post

"Tall, narrow, with an elegant linear design like that of the aesthetic it celebrates, this book is a gorgeous object, with top-quality reproductions. Norbert Wolf’s commentary is provocative, broad and deep, illuminating links between artists, architects and designers as diverse as Munch and Mondrian, Gaudí and Gallé." —Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times

This sumptuous volume explores key aspects of Art Nouveau—decorative arts, architecture, fashion, dance, advertising, and more—with an in-depth approach and stunning illustrations. The Art Nouveau movement became an international phenomenon at the beginning of the twentieth century that ushered in the era of modernity in almost every aspect of cultural life. For decades critics have argued that Art Nouveau was not an artistic period in its own right, but an amalgam of artists and styles that served as a bridge between neoclassicism and modernism. In this comprehensive, authoritative, and copiously illustrated book, art historian Norbert Wolf explores Art Nouveau as a logical outgrowth of the historic forces in which it arose. This book focuses on the movement's wide variety of applications and reclaims its prominence in the pantheon of modern art history. Chapters on aesthetics, spirituality, and the cult of beauty offer luminous examples of works by Mucha, Gaudi, Hoffman, Klimt, Horta, Munch, and Tiffany, among many others. Wolf's text is both informed and accessible, providing an exciting narrative that brings the Art Nouveau movement into clear focus. Beautifully produced to appeal to a wide range of readers, this new volume gives one of the world's most popular styles the serious consideration it deserves.

Hardcover
304 pages, 241 color illustrations
Prestel Publishing, 2015
8.9 x 1.2 x 12.7 inches
ISBN 9783791381558
Art Nouveau, Aesthetics