Art Deco, also known as Style Moderne, was an art movement originating in the 1920s which focussed on infusing functional objects with artistry. It stood to represent modernism through crafting geometric and stylised works with man-made materials. They were striving to convey wealth and sophistication through their works to countered traditionalism.
The Art Deco movement is characterised by the evident admiration for the modern nature of man-made design and machinery as it showcases simplicity and symmetry. These works feature representational pieces of subjects like foliage, animals, female figures with the use of man-made materials such as plastics, vita-glass and more. Artists would often include natural materials such as jade silver and ivory.
Art Deco came about during the time of the Industrial Revolution where people began to gain more wealth. Those who grew up during the time of World War I and the generation of the 1920s, known as the ‘lost generation’, wanted more from life in the name of glamour and luxury. From these mixed feelings of anxiety and joy from the ending of WWII, Art Deco was born.
This popular design style was influenced by art styles such as Art Nouveau, Futurism, the Bauhaus, Cubism, and Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.
Some of the most notable artists of the Art Deco style were known for the limited-edition pieces that they crafted. This includes a glass and jewellery designer René Lalique, the furniture designer Émile Jacques Ruhlmann and the architect Eliel Saarinen to name a few.
Personally, I feel that the various works of the art deco movement successfully encapsulated an air of sophisticated luxury and I can see how, during times of such hardship and turmoil, it could bring about an escape into lavishness and influence the vision of glamour for the future.
Jasmine Cooper 