Emerging in the 1920s, Art Deco refers to the sleek, stylized decorative arts look that came to epitomize early 20th-century modernity. Art Deco influenced fine and applied arts worldwide until the 1940s. In this guide, we will explore its bold geometric forms and machine-age aesthetic.
Art Deco: Roaring Twenties Glamour
What is Art Deco? Art Deco's lineage traces to early modern art movements like Cubism, Constructivism, and Futurism. Its streamlined look first developed in Parisian avant-garde painting and furniture design. Architects then translated these ideas into the towering Art Deco skyscrapers and cinemas that redefined cityscapes.
Sculptors like Paul Manship contributed monumental Bronze deco figures. Rene Lalique created shimmering glassware and jewelry. Fashion embraced the graphic appeal in avant-garde couture. This total work of art influenced every aspect of visual culture.
Display of early Art Deco furnishings by the Atelier français at the 1913 Salon d'Automne from Art et décoration magazine (1914)
Art Deco Paintings: Key Elements
Art Deco employed sleek, streamlined forms and technological motifs. It discarded ornamentation in favor of geometric patterns and angular shapes inspired by machines. Bold outlines frame areas of unblended vibrant color. Figures are stylized silhouettes inspired by primitive art. Elongated shapes and symmetrical arrangements create dynamism. These elements aimed to capture the forward spirit of modern industry. They exuded luxury, sophistication, and order while eagerly embracing a new machine age.
Art Deco, a prominent artistic and design style that flourished during the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930s, is characterized by several distinctive features that reflect its modern and glamorous aesthetic. Some key characteristics of Art Deco include:
Geometric shapes: Art Deco often incorporates geometric shapes such as zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts, and stepped forms, reflecting the influence of modern machinery and technology on design.
Streamlined forms: Art Deco emphasizes sleek and streamlined forms, inspired by the aerodynamic shapes of airplanes, automobiles, and ocean liners. Smooth curves and sharp angles create a sense of speed, dynamism, and modernity.
Luxurious materials: Art Deco celebrates luxury and opulence, with a preference for rich materials such as exotic woods, marble, chrome, glass, and polished metals. These materials are often used in combination to create striking contrasts and luxurious textures.
Bold colors: Art Deco embraces bold and vibrant color palettes, including deep blues, rich greens, fiery reds, and shimmering golds. These bold colors are often used in geometric patterns and symmetrical compositions to create visual impact.
Decorative motifs: Art Deco features a variety of decorative motifs inspired by ancient cultures, exotic locales, and modern machinery. Common motifs include stylized flora and fauna, sunbursts, chevrons, and geometric patterns.
Symmetry and repetition: Art Deco designs often exhibit a strong sense of symmetry and repetition, with elements arranged in balanced compositions. This emphasis on symmetry creates a sense of order and harmony in Art Deco architecture, furniture, and decorative arts.
Vertical emphasis: Art Deco architecture and design frequently emphasize verticality, with tall buildings, slender columns, and stepped forms evoking a sense of upward movement and aspiration. This vertical emphasis is often accentuated by the use of decorative elements such as spires, towers, and setbacks.
Glamorous and exotic themes: Art Deco draws inspiration from exotic cultures, ancient civilizations, and glamorous lifestyles, evoking a sense of escapism and fantasy. These themes are often expressed through decorative motifs, luxurious materials, and evocative imagery.
Machine age aesthetic: Art Deco celebrates the modern machine age and the technological advancements of the early 20th century. Industrial materials, streamlined forms, and mechanical imagery reflect the influence of modern machinery on design and architecture.
Global influence: Art Deco was a truly international style, with influences drawn from diverse cultures and regions around the world. From the skyscrapers of New York City to the temples of ancient Egypt, Art Deco synthesized a wide range of influences into a cohesive and distinctive aesthetic.
Louis XVI style influences – Dressing table and chair set, by Paul Follot (1919), marble and wood encrusted, lacquered, and gilded, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris
Modern Art Deco After the Great Depression
The economic crisis of the 1930s impacted the development of Art Deco in its second phase. As extravagance fell out of favor, the style shifted from ebullient to austere. Smooth surfaces and rounded edges softened early Deco's severity. Furnishings and textiles adopted softer materials like leather. Designers emphasized simplicity and functionality over opulence. This pragmatic shift aligned with rising Bauhaus philosophies on design for the masses.
The Great Depression in the 1930s dealt a blow to the lavish, energetic aesthetic of Art Deco. The economic crisis forced restraint and conservatism, making the style associated with excess seem frivolous. But Art Deco adapted and evolved rather than disappearing completely. It shed some of its flashier elements and became more subdued and austere. Streamlining, which began in the 1920s with objects like speedboats and trains, became more prominent as Art Deco responded to hardship with smoother, cleaner designs. Emphasis was now on utility and function.
New industrial materials like chrome, glass block, and plastic opened additional avenues. Hollywood embraced Art Deco in lavish movie theaters and films. Government-sponsored public works projects employed Art Deco designers, bringing the style to bridges, parks, and public buildings. Though changed by the Depression, Art Deco retained its visual flair and innovative spirit through challenging times. It found new, modernist-influenced forms that were serious, purposeful, and still recognizably Art Deco.
Art Deco Movement Legacy
Art Deco profoundly influences design even today. Its ethos of sleek modernity and machine-age imagery still shapes architecture, graphic arts, fashion, and film. Designers continually reinterpret its iconic forms and motifs. Above all, Art Deco's bold integration of fine and applied arts exemplifies modernism's creative spirit. Its glamour and visual exuberance left an indelible mark on the 20th century.
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