Art Deco was a popular international art design
movement from 1925 until the 1940s, affecting the
decorative arts such as
architecture,
interior design, and
industrial design, as well as the
visual arts such as
fashion,
painting, the
graphic arts, and
film. At the time, this style was seen as elegant,
glamorous, functional, and
modern.
The movement was a mixture of many different styles and movements
of the early 20th century, including
Neoclassical,
Constructivism,
Cubism,
Modernism,
Art Nouveau, and
Futurism. Its popularity peaked in Europe
during the
Roaring Twenties and
continued strongly in the United States through the 1930s. Although
many design movements have political or philosophical roots or
intentions, Art Deco was purely decorative.
Art Deco experienced a decline in popularity during the late 30s
and early 40s, and soon fell out of public favor. It experienced a
resurgence with the popularization of
graphic design in the 1980s. Art Deco had a
profound influence on many later artistic movements, such as
Memphis and
Pop
art.
Surviving
examples may still be seen in many different locations worldwide,
in countries as diverse as the United Kingdom
, Spain
, Cuba
, Indonesia
, the Philippines
, Argentina
, Romania
, Australia, New Zealand
, India
and Brazil
. Many
classic examples still exist in the form of architecture in many
major cities.
The Empire State Building
and Chrysler Building
, both in New York City
, are two of the largest and best-known examples of
the style.
History
After the
Universal
Exposition of 1900, various
French artists formed an
informal collective known as,
La Société des artistes
décorateurs (the society of the decorator artists). Founders
included
Hector Guimard,
Eugène Grasset, Raoul Lachenal,
Paul Bellot,
Maurice Dufrêne, and Emile Decoeur.
These artists heavily influenced the principles of Art Deco as a
whole. This society's purpose was to demonstrate French decorative
art's leading position and evolution internationally. They
organized the 1925
Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels
Modernes (International Exposition of Modern Industrial
and Decorative Art) in Paris, which would feature French art and
business interests. The terms
Style Moderne and
Art
Deco both derive from the exposition's title, though
Art
Deco was not widely used until popularized by art historian
Bevis Hillier's 1968 book
Art Deco
of the 20s and 30s.
In the
summer of 1969, Hillier conceived organizing an exhibition called
Art Deco at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
, which took place from July to September
1971. After this event, interest in Art Deco peaked with the
publication of his 1971 book
The World of Art Deco, a
record of the exhibition.
Sources
The structure of Art Deco is based on mathematical
geometric shapes. It was widely considered to be an
eclectic form of elegant and stylish
modernism, being influenced by a variety of
sources.
Among them were the so-called "primitive"
arts of Africa, as well as historical
styles such as Greco-Roman Classicism,
and the art of Babylon
, Assyria, Ancient
Egypt, and Aztec Mexico.
Much of
this could be attributed to the popular interest in archeology in
the 1920s (eg, the tomb of Tutankhamun,
Pompeii
, the lost
city of Troy
,
etc). Art Deco also drew on
Machine
Age and
streamline technologies such
as modern
aviation,
electric lighting, the
radio, the
ocean liner and
the
skyscraper for inspiration.
Streamline Moderne was the final
interwar-period development, which most
thoroughly manifests technology and has been rated by some
commentators as a separate architectural style.
Art Deco design influences were expressed in the crystalline and
faceted forms of decorative
Cubism and
Futurism. Other popular themes in Art
Deco were
trapezoidal, zigzagged,
geometric, and jumbled shapes, which can be seen in many early
pieces.
Two great examples of these themes and styles
are in Detroit
, Michigan
: the Fisher Building
and the Guardian Building
.
Attributes
Art Deco was an opulent style, and its lavishness is attributed to
reaction to the forced austerity imposed by
World War I.
Its rich, festive character fitted it for
"modern" contexts, including the Golden Gate Bridge
, interiors of cinema theaters (a prime example
being the Paramount Theater
in Oakland
, California
) and ocean liners such
as the Île de France,
Queen
Mary
, and Normandie. Art Deco was employed
extensively throughout the United States' train stations in the
1930s, designed to reflect the modernity and efficiency of the
train.Art Deco made use of many distinctive styles, but one of the
most significant of its features was its dependence upon a range of
ornaments and
motif. The style
is said to have reflected the tensions in the cultural politics of
its day, with
eclecticism having been
one of its defining features. In the words of
F. Scott
Fitzgerald, the distinctive style of Art Deco was shaped by
'all the nervous energy stored up and expended in the War'. Art
Deco has been influenced in part by movements such as
Cubism, Russian
Constructivism and Italian
Futurism, which 'are all evident in Art Deco
decorative arts'.
Materials and design
Art Deco is characterized by use of materials such as
aluminum,
stainless
steel,
lacquer and
inlaid wood. Exotic materials such as sharkskin
(
shagreen), and
zebraskin were also in evidence. The bold use of
stepped forms and sweeping curves (unlike the sinuous, natural
curves of the
Art Nouveau),
chevron patterns, and the
sunburst motif are typical of Art Deco.
Some of
these motifs were ubiquitous — for example, sunburst motifs were
used in such varied contexts as ladies' shoes, radiator grilles, the auditorium
of the Radio City
Music Hall
, and the spire of the Chrysler Building
.
Streamline Moderne
A parallel movement called
Streamline
Moderne, or simply Streamline, followed close behind.
Streamline was influenced by the modern aerodynamic designs,
including those emerging from advancing technologies in
aviation,
ballistics, and
other fields requiring high velocity. The attractive shapes
resulting from scientifically applied
aerodynamic principles were enthusiastically
adopted within Art Deco, applying streamlining techniques to other
useful objects in everyday life, such as the
automobile. Although the beauty of the functional
design, not tacked on ornamentation, of the
Chrysler Airflow design of 1933 was
commercially unsuccessful, it provided the lead for more
conservatively designed pseudo-streamlined vehicles.
Streamlining quickly influenced American and European
automobile design and changed the look
from the rectangular "
horseless"
carriages into sleek vehicles with sweeping lines,
symmetry, and V-shapes that added to their mystique
of speed and efficiency.
Nash Motors
introduced the modern fully-unitized body (
monocoque) design for the low-price market in 1941
that featured
fastback “Slipstream” models
with high prow-like
hoods, and Art
Deco "speed lines" in sweeping
chrome
grilles and parallel bar trim. These
aerodynamic-looking designs were applied by automakers and
continued to be popular in the
sellers' market after
World War II. These "streamlined" forms began
to be used in the design of mundane and static objects such as
pencil sharpeners,
refrigerators, and
gas pumps.
Art Deco celebrates the Machine Age through explicit use of
man-made materials (particularly glass and stainless steel),
symmetry, and repetition, modified by
Asian
influences such as the use of silks and
Middle Eastern designs. It was strongly adopted
in the United States during the
Great
Depression for its practicality and simplicity, while still
portraying a reminder of better times and the "
American Dream".
Decline and resurgence
Art Deco slowly lost patronage in the West after reaching mass
production, when it began to be derided as gaudy and presenting a
false image of luxury. Eventually, the style was cut short by the
austerities of
World War II.
Before
destruction in World War II, Manila
possessed
many Art Deco buildings; a legacy of the American colonial
past. A resurgence of interest in Art Deco came first in the
1960s, and then again in the 1980s with the growing interest in
graphic design, where its association
with
film noir and 1930s
glamour led to its use in
advertisements for jewelry and fashion.
Surviving examples
Some of
the finest surviving examples of Art Deco art and architecture are
found in Cuba
, especially
in Havana
. The
Bacardi Building is noted for its particular style, which echoes
the classic themes of Art Deco. The style is expressed in the
architecture of residences, businesses, hotels, and many pieces of
decorative art, furniture, and utensils in public buildings, as
well as in private homes.
Another
country with many examples of rich Art Deco architecture is
Brazil
, especially
in Goiânia
and cities like Cipó
(Bahia), Iraí
(Rio Grande do Sul) and Rio de
Janeiro
, especially in Copacabana
. Also in the Brazilian Northeast — notably in
countryside cities, such as Campina Grande
in the state of Paraiba
— there is a noticeable group of Art Deco
buildings, which has been called “Sertanejo Art Deco” because of
its peculiar architectural features. The reason for the
style being so widespread in Brazil is its coincidence with the
fast growth and radical economic changes of the country during
1930-1940.
Art deco buildings are also numerous in
Montevideo
, Uruguay
, including the iconic Palacio Salvo
, which was South America's tallest building when it
was built in the late 1920s.
Fair Park
, located in Dallas, TX, stands as one of the
largest collections of Art Deco structures. Much of the Art Deco
heritage of Tulsa
, Oklahoma
remains from that city's oil boom
days. Houston
, Texas
has some
surviving buildings, such as the Houston City Hall, the JPMorgan
Chase Building
and the 1940 Air Terminal Museum
, though many are threatened by modern
development. In Beaumont
, the Jefferson County Courthouse
, built in 1931, is one of the few Art Deco
buildings still standing.
Napier
, New
Zealand
, was rebuilt in the Art Deco style after being
largely razed by the Hawke's Bay earthquake
of 3 February 1931. Although a few Art Deco
buildings were replaced with contemporary structures during the
1960s, 1970s and 1980s, most of the centre remained intact for long
enough to become recognized as architecturally unique, and from the
1990s onwards had been protected and restored. As of 2007, Napier
has been nominated for UNESCO
World
Heritage Site status, the first cultural site in New Zealand to
be nominated.
In
London, the former Arsenal Stadium
boasts the famous East Stand facade.
It
remains at the football club's old home
at Highbury
, London Borough of Islington
, which was vacated in the summer of
2006. Opened in October 1936, the structure now has
Grade II listed status and has been
converted into flats. William Bennie, the man behind the project,
famously used the Art Deco style in the final design which was seen
as one of the most opulent and impressive stands in world football.
The
London Underground is also
famous for many examples of Art Deco architecture .

Art deco in India
Mumbai
, India
has the
second largest number of Art Deco buildings in the world after
Miami
.
In
China
, at least sixty Art Deco buildings designed by
Hungarian architect Laszlo Hudec
survive in downtown Shanghai.
Kansas City is home to the Kansas City
Power and Light Building
which completed construction in 1931. This
building serves as a great example of the
Great Depression and its effect on Art Deco
construction. Original plans called for a twin tower to be built
next to it on its west side. However, it was never built due to
financial constraints. As a result, the 476 foot tower has a bare
west side, with no windows.
Other examples of Art Deco buildings in
Kansas City include Municipal Auditorium
, the Jackson County Courthouse
, Kansas City City Hall
; and 909
Walnut
.
Cincinnati,
Ohio
houses the Cincinnati Union Terminal
, an Art Deco style passenger railroad station that
opened in 1933. After the decline of railroad travel, most
of the building was converted to other uses. It now serves as the
Cincinnati Museum Center, which welcomes more than one million
visitors per year and is the 17th most visited museum in the United
States.
In
Indonesia
, the largest stock of Dutch East Indies
era buildings are in the large cities of Java
.
Bandung
is of particular note with one of the largest
remaining collections of 1920s Art Deco buildings in the world,
with the notable work of several Dutch architects and planners,
including Albert Aalbers that added
the expressionist architecture style to the Art Deco by designing
the DENIS bank (1936) and renovated the Savoy Homann Hotel (1939),
Thomas Karsten, Henri Maclaine-Pont,
J Gerber and C.P.W. Schoemaker.
The Nederlandsche
Handel Maatschappij building (1929), now Museum Bank Mandiri, by J
de Bryun, AP Smiths, and C Van de Linde, and right across it, the
Jakarta Kota
Station
(1929) designed by Frans Johan Louwrens
Ghijsels, are the surviving Art Deco buildings in Jakarta
.
The
Manila Metropolitan
Theater located along P.Burgos Street in Manila
is one of
the few existing art deco buildings in the
Philippines.
Valencia,
Spain
built profusely in Art Deco style during the period
of economic bounty between wars in which Spain remained
neutral. Particularly remarkable are the famous bath
house Las Arenas, the building hosting the Rectorship of the
University
of Valencia
and the cinemas Rialto (currently the Filmoteca de
la Generalitat Valenciana),
Capitol (reconverted into an office building) and
Metropol.
Africa's most celebrated examples of art deco were
built in Eritrea
during Italian
rule. Many buildings survive in Asmara
, the
capital, and elsewhere. Also there are many buildings in
downtown Casablanca, Morocco's economic capital.
Finally,
one of the most famous surviving examples of the Art Deco style is
the famous RMS
Queen Mary
, which is
currently moored in retirement in Long Beach, California
as a floating museum and hotel, a true lasting
reminder to the past glory of the once numerous trans-Atlantic
ocean liners, and to the Art Deco period.
The popular video game "Bioshock", released in 2007, exhibits art
deco style throughout its underwater setting. "Rapture" was
constructed in the 1940's hence the style in question was highly
influential in the cities design.
Influences
The distinctive style of Art Deco has been echoed in many similar
movements since its early decline. Art Deco influenced later styles
such as
Memphis and the
Pop art movement. It also had an effect on
post modern architecture and styles, even
through to the late 1970s. Art Deco has also had a marked influence
on contemporary design.
House design in the United Kingdom
During the 1930s, Art Deco had a noticeable influence on house
design in the United Kingdom, as well as the design of various
public buildings. Straight, white-rendered house frontages rising
to flat roofs, sharply geometric door surrounds and tall windows,
as well as convex curved metal corner windows, were all
characteristic of that period.
See also
References
-
http://www.answers.com/topic/soci-t-des-artistes-d-corateurs
- Scarlett and Townley, Arts Décoratifs 1925: A Personal
Recollection of the Paris Exhibition, Academy Editions,
London, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1975
- "Curves of Steel: Streamlined Automobile Design" Phoenix
Art Museum 2008, retrieved on 2009-06-02.
- “1941-1948 Nash Ambassador” by the Auto Editors of
‘’Consumer Guide’’ 2007-09-27, retrieved on 2009-06-02.
- “1947-1948 Nash” by the Auto Editors of ‘’Consumer
Guide’’ 2007-09-27, retrieved on 2009-06-02.
- http://www.houstondeco.org
- http://www.artdeconapier.com/Earthquake_8.aspx Napier
Earthquake
- http://www.artdeconapier.com/
-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00npm4g/Art_Deco_Icons_London_Transport
Bibliography
- Applegate, Judith. Intro. by Elayne H. Varian, Art Deco (New
York Finch College Museum Of Art, 1970).
- Bayer, Patricia, Art Deco Architecture Design, Decoration
and Detail from the Twenties and Thirties. (London: Thames
& Hudson, 1999) ISBN 0500281491, ISBN 978-0500281499.
- Benton, Charlotte (Author), Tim Benton (Author), Ghislaine Wood
(Author), Oriana Baddeley (Collaborator). Art Deco:
1910-1939 (Little Brown & Co., 2003). ISBN
9780821228340.
- Breeze, Carla, American Art Deco: Modernistic Architecture
and Regionalism (Norton, WW & Co., 2003). ISBN 0500281491;
ISBN 978-0500281499.
- Duncan, Alaistair: Art Deco: The definitive Guide to the
Decorative Arts of the 1920s & 1930's.(Thames & Hudson
2009) ISBN 978-0500238554
- Gallagher, Fiona, Christie's Art Deco (Watson Guptill
Publications, 2002) ISBN 1862055092.
- Hillier, Bevis The World of Art Deco (New York, E.P.
Dutton & Co., Inc., 1971) ISBN 9780525482383 ISBN
0525482385.
- Lucie-Smith, Edward: Art Deco Painting (Phaidon Press
Ltd London 1996) ISBN 978-0714835761
- Ray, Gordon N.; Tansell, G. Thomas, Ed., The Art Deco Book
In France. The Bibliographical Society of The University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, 2005) ISBN 1883631122.
- Savage, Rebecca Binno and Greg Kowalski. Art Deco in
Detroit (Images of America). (Arcadia, 2004). ISBN
0-7385-3228-2.
- Unes, Wolney. Identidade Art Deco de Goiânia. (Ateliê,
2003). ISBN 85-7480090-2.
External links