Art deco

Art deco was invented just after when the World War I ended. The ending of the war created a more active lifestyle and colourful geometric style that influenced the American culture as well as the architecture and fashion.

When the war ended, life in Europe and America changed drastically as opposed to the technological advances. Paris became the world’s leadership in fashion and design. The name ‘art deco’ became after the 1966 exhibition, referring to the ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes’ that took place in 1925 that was a showcase for new and original works of all types.

 

Art deco affected all areas of designs that include architecture, Industrial design, visual arts, graphic arts as well as film.

Paul Follot(1877-1941)

Paul Follot is an Art deco traditionalist. His work was inspired bye Neo-Gothic and also gained his stride during the Belle Epoque.  Follot made objects of silver, textiles and bronze as well as Jewelry for Meier-Graefe. Paul was inspired or influenced by Maurice Dufrene’s work that also worked in Meier-Graefe.

Paul Follot is best known for his legacy in furniture, today we might use the phrase ‘Follot-style’ to describe works which pay homage to Follot’s distinctive flair. Paul shifted throughout his career ranging from the classic and restrain through to the modernist and bold. In 1910, a more reticent, more classical style shows up in his work, a tendency that increased with the rest of Art Deco.

Whereas Art Nouveau is mostly known for its curvilinear style of design, Art Deco was more geometrical.

Art deco moved away from pastels and organic forms of Art Nouveau and embraced many influences and different styles of the movements of the 20^th century that includes the following; Constructivism, Cubism, Futurism, etc. Unlike other designs and movement that had political or philosophical roots or intentions of some sort, Art deco was purely decorative.

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