Style & movement
Art Nouveau
A style of around 1890–1910 known for organic lines, plant forms and an ambition to unite art, architecture and craft.
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- Style & movement
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Understanding the term
The style developed different regional names and expressions, including Jugendstil. It is recognised by flowing contours, asymmetry and natural motifs, though more geometric variants also exist. A unified whole from building to furniture and detail was often central.
When Art Nouveau is used as a style label, it points to a family of formal qualities and ideas rather than a fixed recipe. Periods and movements overlap, and a single work may draw on several styles.
The label becomes more precise when considered alongside date, composition, colour, materials and historical context. A style can inspire work long after its original period, so appearance alone does not date an object.
Related entries
Continue through the glossary with terms from the same field.