20th-century Decorative Art

Under ‘20th-century Decorative Art’ we consider the different styles and art movements of the beginning of the previous century ranging from Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism and  Futurism.

Particularly the art design movements Art Deco and Art Nouveau have a great following.  Art Deco was a greatly admired international art design movement from 1925 up to the 1940s. The effects of the movement can be found back in architecture, interior design, and industrial design, as well as the visual arts such as fashion, painting, the graphic arts, and film. The basis of Art Deco is formed by mathematical geometric shapes and is influenced by so-called "primitive" arts of Africa, Ancient Egypt, and Aztec Mexico.

Like Art Deco, Art Nouveau had an international following and was particularly popular at the turn of the 20th century, between 1890 and 1905. The term Art Nouveau is French for ‘new art’ and is known in German as Jugenstil, translated ‘youth style’. The art movement is characterised by its organic nature with a heavy focus on floral and other types of plant inspired motifs.