Art Nouveau - Nature and Abstraction

The term Art Nouveau comes from the name of a shop that opened in Paris in 1895 according to Nikolaus Pevsner’s book, The Sources of Modern Architecture and Design.   A house designed in 1892 and build in 1893 in Brussels probably marks the period when the style transferred to architecture.  The beginning of the style of Art Nouveau is placed somewhere between the years of 1883 and 1888. 

One of the individuals associated with Art Nouveau in the early years was Arthur H. Mackmurdo.  Mackmurdo was a young wealthy architect and designer.  He wrote a book in 1883 and referred to Sir Christopher Wren’s churches in London as Art Nouveau.  The reasoning for this association is that there were certain characteristics present that are often associated with the style.  These characteristics were asymmetrical flaming shapes derived from nature.

It is believed that Mackmurdo was influenced by William Morris and others.  Morris, a craftsman and  designer, is credited with encouraging young painters and architects all over to focus on helping people in their everyday lives. 

Art Nouveau became a universal success.  There were many others early that made significant contributions to the development of Art Nouveau.  The Paris Exhibition of 1900 was a major celebration of the art style.