Art Deco Research Paper

The Art Deco movement had its beginnings in Paris, at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs which was a showcase for new inspiration and was initially meant to advertise the authority of the French in the creation and manufacturing of luxury goods. With a small, yet faithful following from the early 20th century, Art Deco evolved from nationalism, Art Nouveau, Cubism, Futurism, Neo Classism and modernism, and flourished after World War 1, achieving global popularity between the two world wars, primarily in the jazz age of the roaring 20’s and 30’s. As a result of a civilization ravaged by war and the deprivation and poverty that follows war, intertwined with the hopefulness of the machine age and the new women’s liberation

Art Deco paintings used rich colours to add panache to interiors and were a refreshing statement of an architectural design that was entirely concentrated on ornamentation. Art Deco was not categorized as independent from Modernism until 1966, when a retrospective on the 1925 exposition was done. The Art Deco movement took place between World Wars 1 and 2, most notably during the Roaring Twenties, and was embraced by a world that desired speed, luxury and opulence. It was the Swing era of jazz music, big bands and flappers, as well as the birth of the silent movie and silver screen charm where celebrities reveled in lavish indulgence. As a result of the considerable reforms in social, personal and economical matters of post World War 1, expensive, hand crafted and formal Art Nouveau lost its support and was replaced with a new design concept of mass produced modernism. The jumbled floral patterns, pastel colours and the overly decorative curls and designs of Art Nouveau were cleared down to angular geometric shapes, uncomplicated, vivid and striking colours, crisp shapes and stylish, elegant characteristics of the new style Art

in the eclectic style of Art Deco and were a never ending source of design ideas. Much of the glamour and exoticism was expressed through traditional materials and techniques of East Asian art. Designers admired the polished surface and brilliant color of Jade and the opulent seductive effects of Japanese lacquer. The detailed forms and geometric designs of East Asian art were also a design feature of Art Deco. Chinoisoirie, a pseudo Chinese style popular with Europeans in the 18th century, re appeared and continued into the 19th century. Japanese prints impacted porcelain motifs and Japanese parasols, fans and the blue and white porcelain designs became chic accessories for the stylish