Art Nouveau

The new style around 1900: undulating lines, plants and insects, and a wish to make everything new.

The style has many names: Art Nouveau in France and Belgium, Jugendstil in Germany, Secession in Vienna and Liberty in Italy. What they shared was a turning away from the historical styles.

In Nancy Émile Gallé made glass with plant motifs, in Paris René Lalique made jewellery of enamel, and in Glasgow Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed rooms with straight, tall forms.

Whiplash lines and winding stems

Dragonflies, lilies and women with flowing hair

Enamel, cased glass and pewter

In Scotland and Vienna: straight lines and grids