Before Class- Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau is a period in design that brought a new light to graphic design as a whole. Its popularity was profound throughout the late 19th century. The period was mainly created due to the mass trade that was occurring between Europe and Asian cultures such as Japan. This trade between Europe and Japan led to a European fascination with oriental art, and , more specifically an interest in a traditional Japanese art form called ukiyo-e. Japonisme is a term that is used to describe this sudden infatuation with oriental art in the Western culture.

This influence led to the creation of the Art Nouveau period that started in France. The term art nouveau came from the name of a art gallery in Paris calle Salon de I'Art Nouveau. The style of art nouveau is highly decorative and incredibly bold in color and imagery. This is considered a transitional period in art that aided in starting the modern movement. The designs of this period puched away from old ideas but still utilized techniques from the past, not only in graphic design but in all factions of art including architecture and fashion. Art Nouveau, stemming from an oriental influence, borrowed this fascination with nature. Because of this almost all forms of art nouveau contain a very organic and natural feel.

In Paris there was two graphic artists that helped push the transition from Victorian design. There names were Jules Cheret and Eugene Grasset. One of the main reasons why this art form flourished in Paris is because the french government lifted the restrictions on what could be printed, so no longer were there any rules or guidelines to prevent an artists creativity. Cheret broke away from using typographic letter presses and began to use lithographic printmaking method. This method gave the finished product stunning coloration, but it was Cheret's compositions that really pushed away from Victorian design. He got rid of the intricate details used by Victorian artist and simplified his work while enlarging the scale of his images.