Art Nouveau 1890-1914 is a timely
reappraisal of an extraordinary style that
flourished in a world grappling with new
ideas and rapid social change. One
hundred years on, the much-anticipated
V&A exhibition will re-examine the many
cultural and artistic influences on Art
Nouveau and the diverse range of
artforms in which it was embodied.
Decadent yet popular, loved and hated, Art Nouveau was a
complicated style for a complicated time. In an age defined
by mass consumption, urbanisation and modernity,
exponents of the new art sought to modernise culture itself,
bringing about an extraordinary fusion of function and
decoration. From biscuit tins to pornography, shop fronts to
furniture, Art Nouveau gave rise to the concept of an
all-encompassing lifestyle environment - a total work of art
designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience.
Victoria & Albert Museum
London,
UK United Kingdom