subject: Are You Aware of Art Nouveau Graphic Design? [print this page] Are You Aware of Art Nouveau Graphic Design?
As the 19th century was drawing to a close, graphic illustrators incorporated pattern, shape and design into their art. The man who used those same elements and actually changed the way that graphic designers looked at a page, died at the age of only 26 years. In his short life span, he created his proprietary understanding of the art nouveau style, that artists have imitated in varying degrees all throughout the 1900's.
Oscar Wilde, a celebrated and controversial literary figure and champion of art of the time, believed moral or ethical concerns should not be allowed when judging art, and that art was simply an end unto itself. Oscar Wilde decided to choose this special young artist to illustrate a certain story which was both perverse and exotic. The blossoming artist utilized dark eroticism, grand lines, arrangements and interesting imagery to depict the storyline.
A pronounced interplay between positive and negative space defines this artist's noteworthy style. The delicate patterns executed on a white background are in sharp contrast to large borders and dark and threatening planes. His page is typically asymmetrical; movements are developed with big, not broken sinuous curves. The characters depicted in his art hold intricate objects presented in great detail, but are just simple outlines themselves. His work is characterized by a force that results from the juxtaposition of the basic and the ornate.
Many artists in the 1800s were influenced by items which were being imported from Asia, in addition to a focus on Renaissance decor and medieval artworks. So, this artist's images were the basis for much imitation throughout the US and Europe, bringing him considerable fame, and appearances in well known publications. Framed prints and posters, reproductions of his work, can be purchased today.
Poster art developed slowly from a form of commercial advertising to its own artistic genre during the late 19th century. Posters shined in color, unlike books, which were printed in black and white. The poster design leader concentrated on a single, big, brightly colored, image that caught the viewers' eyes. Informative text regarding the item or event in question were as short as they could be. He knew that the audience's attention was more easily attracted to simplicity so he used vivid colors and flat, basic shapes. Much like an Impressionist painting, his lines would be somewhat fractured and hesitant. Because of this, his work is though to be the forerunner of the exemplary art nouveau design poster.
The very creator of the proper art nouveau poster used more fluid contours and stronger outlines in his distinctive illustrations. One artist created work which is noted for graceful, young girls with long hair and draped clothing, spreading out into interesting, beautiful forms. There was another popular art nouveau poster designer who created graceful, thin strips. On one of them there was typically a head to toe rendering of a lady. Such complex involved patterns use a range of sources for inspiration, such as fold art, Arab and Moorish decorating, Hebrew letters, Byzantine mosaics, Celtic themes, and Japanese wood cuttings.
Books and reprints are available today for many of the turn-of-the-century artists. Poster art of the 19th century and early 20th century are among the specialties dealers sell. You will find their booths in the huge international style antique shows. If a piece is in excellent condition, you can expect to pay from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
