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Art Deco

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Art Deco is a famous style of art and design.

Falling Hare (Art Deco Skyscrapers) 1943
Falling Hare (Art Deco Skyscrapers) 1943

It was used for many things like buildings and jewelry. This style shows luxury and glamour to the world. It also shows a big faith in new technology. Designers used this style for everything from cars to vacuum cleaners. It even appeared on large ocean liners.

SS Normandie (ship, 1935) interior
SS Normandie (ship, 1935) interior

People loved it because it felt very modern and exciting.

To make these objects, artists used many different materials. Some used rare and expensive things like ebony and ivory. Others used new materials like plastic and chrome plating. They also used stainless steel for a shiny look. Many buildings were made using reinforced concrete. This material gave builders more freedom with shapes. It also meant they needed fewer thick pillars inside. Architects even covered concrete with colorful ceramic tiles for decoration.

This style began in Paris during the 1910s. It became very popular during the 1920s and early 1930s. The name comes from a big 1925 exhibition in Paris. This event was called the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. Before this, the style had many different names. Some people called it style moderne or modernistic. It grew from ideas like Cubism and the Vienna Secession. These older styles used bold geometric shapes.

Art Deco was influenced by many different cultures and arts. Designers looked at art from China, Japan, and India. They also studied styles from Persia, ancient Egypt, and the Maya. Bright colors from the Ballets Russes helped shape the look. In the 1930s, the style changed into Streamline Moderne. This version used smooth surfaces and curving forms. It looked sleeker than the older, more decorated versions. This happened as the Great Depression began to affect the world.

Today, you can still see Art Deco in famous places. In New York, the Chrysler Building is a huge monument to this style. The Empire State Building is another famous example. If you visit Miami Beach, Florida, you will see many such buildings. In fact, that city has the largest group of Art Deco architecture in the world. This style shows how people once dreamed of a fast and bright future. It connects the old world of crafts to the new world of machines.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Joseph Csaky, 1912, Danseuse, Femme à l'éventail, Femme à la cruche, original plaster, photo from Csaky archives AC.110.jpg
Joseph Csaky, 1912, Danseuse, Femme à...
File:SS Normandie (ship, 1935) interior.jpg
SS Normandie (ship, 1935) interior.jpg
File:Falling Hare (Art Deco Skyscrapers) 1943.jpg
Falling Hare (Art Deco Skyscrapers) 1943.jpg
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