The Art Deco movement flourished during the 1920s and 1930s in Europe and the United States. After gestating in France, Art Deco migrated to the United States, where it inspired architects to build some of the most famous buildings in modern history, including the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in New York City. Many contend that this modernist movement was a reaction to the ornate style of Art Nouveau. Art Deco is characterized by geometric precision and a fascination with the modern. At the same time, Art Deco architects, painters, and designers incorporated a number of seemingly disparate influences, including Mayan designs, Middle Eastern ideas, and Greek and classical themes. They combined these old influences with new elements, such as machine gears and echo chambers. The overriding goal was speed and simplicity. Art Deco, therefore, hearkened back to the spirit of the Industrial Revolution. Yet Art Deco wasn't nearly as naive as the bright-eyed movements of the 1830s. It borrowed from more modern artistic movements, like Futurism and Cubism. It also sought to employ machines and machine-oriented design whenever and wherever possible. Artists and designers who led the Art Deco movement include Rene Lalique, Adolphe Mouron, and Erte. These artists didn't collaborate nearly as much as did the precocious surrealists or the writers of the Lost Generation. However, they had a profound influence on other styles. Art Deco as a manifest movement died out around the beginning of World War II. |
