Art Deco Art emerged in Europe during the early 1920s. Although short-lived as a movement, lasting just two decades, famous paintings from this 20th century art movement remain instantly recognizable today. Art Deco paintings exude unparalleled elegance, beauty, and stylistic control.
While the Deco movement encompasses furniture, architecture, jewelry, and pottery design, this introduction focuses on famous artists and their paintings. From defining the genre to introducing its leading artists and influences, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this exciting development in famous art deco paintings.
Emerging in the 1920s and 1930s, the movement is characterized by stylized geometric forms. The term appeared after the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes exhibition in Paris in 1925.
Sometimes also called “style modern,” the movement became a significant force in European and American Art. Indeed, it succeeded the Art Nouveau style, which started in the 1890s.
Art Nouveau employs curved lines and flowing organic shapes to profound effect. Contrastingly, Art Deco paintings eschew this flowing naturalism, replacing it with a more carefully controlled aesthetic. During the interwar period, the art movement reflected the rapid technological progress and the onset of the machine age in European society.
While this art style is inclusive and multifaceted, certain traits are identifiable. One of the most important defining characteristics is a geometric, fragmented approach to design.
Referencing the Cubism art movement, which was also gaining pace, Art Deco paintings are often subdivided, combining compositions with fiercely dynamic lines and shapes. Further distinguishing features include simple, clean silhouettes producing a highly streamlined appearance. When purely decorative ornament and detailing appear, it is often heavily geometric, symmetrical, and stylized.
Art Deco’s inspiration came from many different fields. Central American art, Aztec artifacts, and Egyptian art all fed into its aesthetic style. The influence of Art Nouveau is also evident, with some sinuous curves, often based on plant forms, appearing amongst the controlled geometric forms.
While the art movement represented the latest modernist trends, contemporary reproductions were rare. There were some mass-produced items and posters, but the focus was on sophisticated and exclusive elegance.
This art movement takes inspiration from three main sources:
Due to the vast array of creative specialisms and artistic influences, there are numerous famous artists and designers. Famous artists include George Barbier, Paul Poiret, Erte, and Tamara de Lempicka. René Lalique produced some of the most delicate glass and jewelry designs, while the furniture of Maurice Dufrêne and Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann transformed interiors. Auguste Perret created landmark Deco buildings, such as the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, while William Van Alen designed the iconic spire of New York’s Chrysler Building.
Famed today as a pioneer of Mexican muralism and political art, Diego Rivera's paintings also adopt Art Deco approaches. The movement’s solid lines and geometric modernity, often depicted in nude female figures, appear in many of his oil paintings.
Even with the many exceptional and innovative artists working in the Art Deco style, five artists were pivotal in pioneering and advancing the art movement.
Art Deco paintings by Tamara de Lempicka are some of the most recognizable and iconic creations. She courted controversy and art in her personal life, driving representations of femininity and sexuality into the modern industrial era. Her famous paintings, "La Dormeuse" and "Girl in Green Dress," create a robust and sensual atmosphere. While visually striking, her oil paintings also reference the darker side of European glamor during the early 1930s.
Indeed, Tamara de Lempicka's painting, Auto Portrait Green Bugatti, demonstrates society’s near-total trust in social progress and the positivity of the new machine age. The woman in the painting merges with the motor car, her glinting eyes knowingly gazing at the powerless viewer.
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