Week 3: Art Nouveau in the US
Art Nouveau made a huge impact in Europe, but it did not take hold in the United States as much. There were two major designers that pushed the style of Art Nouveau in America. They were Louis Sullivan and Louis Tiffany who introduced this style. Sullivan was ambitious and was highly educated. He loved being ornamental with his decoration, but it was Americanized and considered unclassical. Louis Sullivan was considered one of the founding fathers of modernism because he focused on the structural frame and vertical element rather than imitating other historical buildings. One of Sullivan's most famous buildings, The Auditorium, is located in Chicago, Illinois. The Auditorium is still standing today and is currently being used by Roosevelt University. Sullivan partnered with Adler to build The Auditorium with an office, an opera, and a hotel all located in the same building. The first couple of floors were created using black granite and the upper levels used limestone. This was one way that Sullivan and Adler used Art Nouveau by choosing materials that were natural and strong. The Opera section of the building was iconic during the days it was built. It used new technologies to help spread sound and light and they were able to fit up to 3,901 seats. Art Nouveau was different in America, but the designers still stuck with the main idea that designs needed to be inspired by nature, and they needed to embrace new materials and technologies.
The picture to the left is the old Carson Pirie Scott building which is no occupied by a Target. The picture to the right is the theatre in The Auditorium. Louis Sullivan designed both of these structures.
These two pictures are great examples of modern Art Nouveau styles. In both images you can see the different materials that are being used and also the intricate pattern in the staircase that resembles the flow of natures.
ONE STEP FURTHER:
Art Nouveau helped designers break away from the past ideas of what design was supposed to be. They embraced new materials and technologies, but also brought back the appreciation of old styles. While going through Art Nouveau in America, the biggest thing that stuck out to me was Louis Tiffany. Tiffany and CO. is well known and whenever someone hears the name, they think of the beautiful jewelry that they create. This chapter opened up a new side of Louis Tiffany and how he influenced design in the early 1900s. He was a wonderful designer of jewelry, lighting fixtures, furniture, and even complete room remodels. Tiffany was a very adverse designer and is still around to this day.
These are two creations by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the style of Art Nouveau. They use bright colors and replicate life in nature.
Video on Louis Comfort Tiffany: Nature through Glass
https://youtu.be/u-98Z9er_-Y
Emma, I really enjoyed your blog this week. I liked how you went in depth about Sullivan and Tiffany to shoe their backgrounds and the distinct ways they shaped Art Nouveau style in America. I especially enjoyed how you discussed the jewelry side to Tiffany's works. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteEmma, great post! You did really well at summarizing Art Noveau in America. I really like the pictures you included in your blog. I though it was cool that for one of your examples we both put the same current application interior. I also though it was really neat that you included the jewelry done by Louis Tiffany.
ReplyDeleteEmmaline,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fantastic Blog post! You described in great detail how Sullivan and Tiffany worked within the structure of the Art Nouveau principles to create unique and timeless design here in the states.
I appreciated that you listed specific materials that Sullivan used in his buildings here in Chicago. Your investigation in Louis Comfort Tiffany was very interesting. He truly was a brilliant designer. Total Points: 50/50