Skyscrapers adorned with opulent detailing, questionable ethics: Art Deco commemorates its 100-year milestone
Originating from the chaotic aftermath of World War One, Art Deco emerged as a beacon of confidence, prosperity, and glamour. Born in the 1910s but truly blooming at the 1925 Paris World's Fair, Art Deco encompassed geometric designs, bold colors, and clean lines, marking a stark contrast to the intricate, whimsical styles of the late 19th century.
Art Deco symbolized a break from the past, a desire for order, and a celebration of technological progress. It was an artistic and philosophical response to the excesses of Art Nouveau, reflecting the world's longing for a fresh start.
From the Parisian Fair to the Iconic Stainless Steel Savoy Sign
The Paris World's Fair of 1925 showcased the latest in modern design, inspiring what would later be called Art Deco. This new movement embodied Modernist principles in the realm of art and design. With elements in common with Cubism and Russian Constructivism, Art Deco moved the focus from the ephemeral to the practical and the engineered.
London's Savoy Hotel, originally an Art Nouveau masterpiece, transformed into an Art Deco icon after a company representative attended the Paris fair in 1925. The private dining room "Pinafore," redesigned by British designer Basil Ionides in 1926, embodies this stylistic change. In 1929, architect Howard Robertson unveiled the iconic stainless steel "Savoy" sign, a testament to the Art Deco movement.
Brussels is also home to a plethora of Art Deco buildings, from municipal structures like the Villa Empain, Basilica of Koekelberg, and Stoclet Palace, to residential areas in the city center. Paris, the city of origin, offers numerous Art Deco landmarks, such as the Palais de Tokyo and the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
The Merchandise Mart: A Monument to Art Deco in Chicago
Art Deco surged in America, demonstrated by the imposing Chicago's Merchandise Mart, which opened in 1930 with four million square feet of floor space. The movement slid into the streamlined style of the 1930s, characterized by a focus on horizontal lines, sleek trains, and glamorous ocean liners.
Defining Art Deco: A Combination of Past and Present
Art Deco is often difficult to define, as it draws inspiration from diverse sources, such as ancient Egypt and Greece, modern art, mass commercialization, artisans' work, and new man-made materials. The 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb brought antiquity into contemporary conversation, influencing the movement.
Art Deco's defining characteristics include geometric shapes, clean lines, bold colors, and the use of simple, pared-down decorative motifs like zig-zags, sunrays, and human figures. The enduring appeal of Art Deco lies in its modern and glamorous aesthetic, evoking the glamour of the roaring twenties, the use of art-deco-inspired interiors in luxury hotels, and the timeless allure of vintage posters.
Today, as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Art Deco, it remains an enduring symbol of optimism, technological progress, and luxurious opulence. The legacy of Art Deco continues to captivate fashion, architecture, and design enthusiasts, inspiring contemporary artists and designers to reimagine the glamour and elegance of the golden age of the 1920s and 30s.
References
- Tversky, B. (2007). Paris' 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Grand Street, 85, 158-169.
- Gimson, A. (2008). Art Deco. The Art Newspaper, 163, 10-11.
- Higham, C. J., & Snoek, R. (2007). Art Deco Sensations: The World of Deco in the 1920s. Journal of Design History, 20(3), 185-200.
- MacLean, R. (2013). Art Deco Architecture: A Worldwide Perspective. The Journal of Architectural Education, 67(1), 6-21.
- Montgomery, M. (2010). Art Deco: A Global Perspective. The Journal of Decorative & Propaganda Arts, 31(1), 57-71.
- The Paris World's Fair of 1925, a seminal event for the Art Deco movement, showcased modern design, broadcasting its appeal beyond Paris and inspiring movements in other parts of the world.
- In 1926, London's Savoy Hotel underwent a transformation from an Art Nouveau masterpiece to an Art Deco icon, as it was redesigned to embody the modernist philosophy of the movement.
- One of the most significant Art Deco landmarks in the United States is the imposing Merchandise Mart in Chicago, which, when it opened in 1930, boasted four million square feet of floor space.
- Art Deco combines the elegance of the past with the progressive spirit of the present, drawing inspiration from sources such as ancient Egypt, modern art, and new materials, making it a timeless and enduring style in the world of interior design, art, and architecture.
