Synopses & Reviews
This sumptuous volume salutes everything Art Deco--from historically significant art and design through to the present day. The Art Deco style is so recognizable and widespread that its original influence on the culture in which it emerged has been all but lost in the clutter of imitation. This book draws our attention back to the birth of Art Deco--a period between two devastating world wars when industrialization was flourishing, interest in archaeology was peaking, and movements such as Cubism, Constructivism, Futurism, and Modernism were turning the art world on its head. Brilliantly designed to reflect the style it celebrates, Art Deco is filled with hundreds of examples of painting, architecture, interiors, jewelry, crafts, furniture, and fashion. Author Norbert Wolf traces the chronology of the Art Deco style by looking at the politics and culture of Europe in the 1920s and early 1930s, and the artistic movements that paralleled its popularity. He follows Art Deco's influence in Europe and its immigration to the Americas and Asia. Most importantly, this wide-ranging volume looks beyond the era of Art Deco's origination to the present day. Pointing to the numerous revivals and contemporary echoes in painting and even literature, this beautiful volume demonstrates that Art Deco is alive and well today--often in forms where we least expect it.
Synopsis
Art decoandmdash;the style of the flapper, the luxury ocean liner, and the skyscraperandmdash;came to epitomize the glamour, luxury, and hedonism of the Jazz Age. It burst onto the world stage at the 1925 Exposition internationale des art decoratifs et industriels modernes in Paris and quickly swept the globe. Its influence was felt everywhere, from the skylines of New York and Shanghai to the design of fashionable eveningwear, jewelry, and plastic radios. Above all, it became the style of the pleasure palaces of the ageandmdash;hotels, nightclubs, and movie theaters. This authoritative publication brings together leading experts in the field to explore the sources, varied forms of expression, distinct visual language, and global reach of deco. With its breathtaking illustrations, this lavish volume is the defi nitive book on what is, arguably, the most popular style of the 20th century.
About the Author
Charlotte Benton is an independent architecture and design historian. Tim Benton is professor of art history at the Open University in the U.K. Ghislaine Wood was curator of the VandA touring exhibition Art Deco 1910andndash;1939 and deputy curator of Art Nouveau 1890andndash;1914.