Characteristics of art nouveau posters
In its time, art nouveau was known as revolutionary and even controversial, and therefore its popularity sky-rocketed
especially among those who wanted to be in and following the latest trends. Taking its main inspiration from the
natural world, art nouveau posters include delicately organic forms, eccentric geometry and flowing, sinuous curves.
This is partly due to the art nouveau movement being inspired by the illustrations and studies of biologists. A lot
of the artwork on which art nouveau posters are based on, mimic and exaggerate those peculiarities found in nature.
Furthermore, most of these images are flowing, wherein they repeat the wavy shapes and turns often. You will be
seeing plenty of this, especially when we cover the works of Alphonse Mucha, one of the most prominent protagonists
of this particular style of art.
A little bit of history
Viewed by some as the first self-conscious attempt to create a distinctly modern style, art nouveau as an art
movement steadily developed across Europe and America, and can be seen to this day in paintings, sculptures,
jewelries, and so on. The seductive drawings of Aubrey Beardsley, the curvaceous architecture of Victor Horta and,
most importantly, the ornate poster designs of Alphonse Mucha, are some of the most familiar examples of the unique
art nouveau style. To know more about this movement is vital because it will allow you to make your selection of art
nouveau posters easier, not just in terms of aesthetics but also so you can answer the questions that are guaranteed
to come your way. First off, art nouveau simply means new art in French and was a movement that lasted from the 1880s
until the First World War and pervaded all aspects of the aesthetic world, particularly architecture and the graphic
arts. Interestingly, although the stylistic movement ended over 100 years ago, true art nouveau designs are still
visible today. You can see this in the art nouveau poster titled Galleria Sciarra, Rome, a wonderful piece that will
lend your room sophistication and visual weight.
The main act in art nouveau posters
Art nouveau has left us with iconic imprints that can still be seen in interior decorating to this day. Photowall's
main advocate in art nouveau posters is the Czech painter and decorative artist named Alphonse Mucha, who was best
known for his distinct style and his images of women. Around Christmas 1894 in Paris, where he had moved to in order
for him to continue his studies, Mucha happened to drop into a print shop where there was a sudden and unexpected
need for a new advertising poster for a play starring Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress in Paris during that
period. Mucha, who worked as a graphic artist at that time, volunteered to produce a lithographed poster within only
two weeks. Bernhardt was so satisfied with the success of this play, partly due to the appeal of that poster, she
entered into a contract with Mucha. Mucha's works frequently featured beautiful, strong young women in flowing
vaguely Neoclassical looking robes, often surrounded by lush flowers which sometimes formed halos behind the women's
heads. Take for instance Alphonse Mucha - Art Noveau, a stunning art nouveau poster that can put your room into an
extraordinary level of room decor. There is a multitude of Mucha's work in art nouveau posters, each one marvelous
and the most perfect focal point to put up in a space.