Art Nouveau & Architecture

Art Nouveau, Art Nouveau architecture, designs and patterns. Despite meaning "new art," Art Nouveau was actually a style derived from several earlier styles and art forms. The most important contributions came from Gothic, rococo, and the arts of Japan and Java. Inspiration for Art Nouveau craftsmen came from the drawings of William Blake, Persian pottery, and ancient Roman glass. The patterns and motifs of Art Nouveau architecture often incorporated linear designs. The works of Art Nouveau architects such as Victor Horta were often inspired by nature and were often carried out with unrestrained exuberance of form and most importantly line. Its emphasis on line led to the style being nicknamed "noodle," "whiplash," and "cigarette-smoke style." The links included herein relate to art nouveau architecture.