From Wikipedia-edited for size.
Art Nouveau is an international
style of art, architecture and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The
style was most popular between 1890 and 1910. It was a reaction against the
academic art, eclecticism and historicism of 19th century architecture and
decoration. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves
of plants and flowers. Other characteristics of Art Nouveau were a sense of
dynamism and movement, often given by asymmetry or whiplash lines, and the use
of modern materials, particularly iron, glass, ceramics and later concrete, to
create unusual forms and larger open spaces.
One major objective of Art
Nouveau was to break down the traditional distinction between fine arts
(especially painting and sculpture) and applied arts. It was most widely used
in interior design, graphic arts, furniture, glass art, textiles, ceramics,
jewelry and metal work. The style
responded to leading 19-century theoreticians.
From Belgium and France, it
spread to the rest of Europe, taking on different names and characteristics in
each country. It often appeared not only in capitals, but also in rapidly
growing cities that wanted to establish artistic identities (Turin and Palermo
in Italy; Glasgow in Scotland; Munich and Darmstadt in Germany), as well as in
center of independence movements (Helsinki in Finland, then part of the Russian
Empire; Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain).
By 1910, Art Nouveau's influence
was fading. It was replaced as the dominant European architectural and
decorative style first by Art Deco and then by Modernism.