Art Déco is the style in applied art that reached its peak in the 1920s, but did not receive this label untill the 1960s when this style - together with Art Nouveau - was back in the lime light again. Set against functionalism Art Déco opened up to decoration and esthetics.
The name in analogy to Art Nouveau (French
name for Jugendstil) was derived from the world exhibiton " l'Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et
industr
iels
modernes", which was held in 1925 in Paris.
Art déco developed partly as a reaction to
the volatile forms of Jugendstil. Influenced by cubism its design became simpler
and straighter. The Ballets Russes by Diaghilev which were performed in
Paris from
1909, were inpsirational to the use of bright colours. Other influences were
African art, the so called Vienese workshop (J. Hoffmann), fauvism,
oriental kunst, expressionism and futurism. In its decorative motives – guirlandes,
flower and fruit baskets, fountains and geometrical figures – straight
lines and symmetry became important. Examples of art déco can be found both in
Europe and the United States. Important designers were Cassandre and E.S. McKnight Kauffer
(posters), René Lalique (glass) and Jean Puiforcat (silver).
In architecture art deco often was an element binnen
with another archtitectural style. In the Netherlands this design was often
integrated in teh Amsterdam School architectural style (Tuschinski Movie
Theatre in Amsterdam, H.L. de Jong, 1921) and in Germany in expressionism (Paula
Modersohn-Becker house in Bremen, Bernard Hoetger, 1926). In Rotterdam the
inclination to decoration can also be found in the work of Kromhout who designed
a couple of massive office buildings, which were richly decorated. A remnant of
this is the office for the port employers association at Pieter de
Hooghweg. Another example in Rotterdam is the Atlantic Huis by
Buskens (1930).