Wednesday 1 May 2013

Art Deco - 1925-1940

Art Deco is a decorative and architectural style of the period 1925-1940, characterized by geometric designs, bold colors, and the use of plastic and glass. This movement first appeared in France during the 1920s, flourished internationally during the 30s and 40s, then waned in the post-World War II era. It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. Its products included both individually crafted luxury items and mass-produced wares, but, in either case, the intention was to create a sleek and antitraditional elegance that symbolized wealth and sophistication.
  Influenced by Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Cubist, Native American, and Egyptian sources, the distinguishing features of the style are simple, clean shapes, often with a streamlined look; ornament that is geometric or stylized from representational forms; and unusually varied, often expensive materials, which frequently include man-made substances (plastics, especially bakelite; vita-glass; and ferroconcrete) in addition to natural ones (silver, ivory and rock crystal). Typical motifs included stylized animals, foliage, nude female figures, and sun rays. The name derives from the "Exposition Internationale des Arts Dcoratifs et Industriels Modernes" in Paris in 1925, where new ideas in applied arts were demonstrated. Here are some of them:


Speaking about painting Vadym Maller was the first artist to be awarded a gold medal in this exhibition. Here is one of his pictures in Art Deco style:

By the way, the famouse Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is also refered to this art movement. This is the largest Art Deco statue in the world.

Here are some of representatives: Cassandre, Tamara de Lempicka, Andre Mare, George Barbier, Vadym Meller.  

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