Journal- Week 3

This week, the class discussed and looked through the Art Nouveau, Sixties’ Psychedelia, and Early Modernism.

Art Nouveau 1890-1910

Art Nouveau is a direct descendent of the Arts and Crafts Movement. It was the first style of commercial art used consistently to enhance the beauty of industrial products. Art Nouveau uses visuals that are organic plant-like and energetic. Like the Arts and Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau was also a rebellion against the Victorian sensibilities.

Art Nouveau influenced the style of architects such as Victor Horta, who strived for harmony between form, material and colour.

 

This following picture is of a hotel landing, the dominant Art Nouveau visuals are clearly visible with the organic plant-like line and vine tendrils.

 I like this photo, because it is so basic but so complex at the same time, and it is beautiful and homely.

The look of Art Nouveau was inspired by Asian art which arrived in Europe as the result of increased trade between Europe and Asia.

There is obvious plant-like decorative motifs, which make this vase distinctively Art Nouveau.

My like for this design of vase, is the elegance, and the different shades of colours.

Another source of inspiration for Art Nouveau came from painters like Vincent Van Gogh and his swirling forms.

 

We also watched a trailer the for the cartoon movie ‘The Illusionist’ which was very much set in Art Nouveau. It was great, and hope to watch it some day soon.

Sixties’ Psychedelia 1960- 1975

Psychedelia was born within the hippie subculture of the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco.

The name “Psychedelic” related directly to psychedelic drugs that were popular with the youth culture of the time, and especially at rock concerts. Poster artists tried to capture the feeling of “tripping out”. For example:

Curvilinear shapes were in as well as bright colours. I really like this, this type of design for chairs, have been back in and working for modern homes.

This image is an underground comic with its wild imagery which also served as inspiration. This was done by R Crumb. Crumb was one of the most influential comic book artists of the 1960s. His work is often bizarre and perverse, which helped his popularity among the youth.

Early Modernism 1910-1935

Outside of the art world, the terms “modern” and “contemporary” are used virtually interchangeably. The early modernism covers a multitude of styles, constructivism, Bauhaus, Dada, De Stijl, Expressionism, Futurism, Heroic Realism, the New Typography, Plakatstil, Surrealism, and Vorticism.

The following picture is an early modern structure which can be described as “experimental”, because it looked nothing like traditional architecture of the time.

Influenced by ancient Iberian and African art, Picasso went through a cubist period in the early 1900s.

Cubist art had a major effect on graphic design, including the expressionist posters of Germany. Expressionists were concerned with the human condition and felt deep empathy for the poor and social outcasts.

  

The following image is done by Lissitzky, the most interested in spacial composition, contrasts between elements, relationship of forms to the negative space, and asymmetrical balance. He used sans-serif type and bold rules with red and black ink.

I am really quite interested in this piece, because i like space and black and red ink. It is mysterious in a way, and it definitely caught my attention.