Gina’s Blog INT 232

Protomodernism  Gina Christopher  The Protomodernism style is a new style, we have not studied something quite like it yet. This movement planted seeds for modernism and rejected historical, ornamented styles. This style is very simplistic and primarily only uses the colors red, yellow, and blue. There was a high emphasis is on flat surfaces with no textures in this style. The designs seen in this period are geometric in form, with emphasis on vertical and horizontal lines (no curvilinear here). The belief during this period was to design simple for the masses, to create inexpensive designs to get out to the people.  My favorite art/design/architecture  Café Museum by Adolf Loos Adolf Loos believed formed developed beauty and not ornamentation. His style was rather simple and paved the way for modernism. I like this work of his in particular because it feels like somewhere I would sit for a while. Most coffee shops today do not hold the richness that this one does. T...

 Art Nouveau (1900-1920) Gina Christopher Art Nouveau did not exist in the United States as it did in Belgium and France. Art Nouveau is reflected in the United States through Louis Henri Sullivan and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Both of these designers brought their love for Art Nouveau to the United States through various decor items and buildings. A few examples include the Carson Pirie store, stained glass designs, The National farmers bank, lamps, and more. All of these elements include the same objectives from Art Nouveau, which is to design in accordance with nature and free flowing aesthetics . The difference is that Sullivan focused on a form follows function way of art nouveau. The rich ornamentation was kept, but toned done slightly to accommodate for the uses and locations of these designs. Art Nouveau design in America still demonstrates the use of flowers, vines, curves, and abstract forms but in a more practical way compared to the Art Nouveau design in Europe, which we st...

 Art Nouveau (1890-1910) Gina Christopher Art Nouveau literally means “new art”. Designers during this time rejected almost all past design styles and classical design (Victorian style). Designers during this time believed that their inspiration should be taken from nature, flowers, vines, birds, etc. This style reminds me of expressionism. Art Nouveau pieces were highly ornamented and focused on natural/ curvilinear forms. This period used modern materials such as iron and glass to create some stunning pieces and modern techniques such as, industrial production and electricity. There is also a strong relationship with the fine arts here, many paintings and sculptures mimicking the use of natural flowing elements. I personally love this period due to the high volume of curves and transparency.  My favorite architecture/ design/ art  Hotel Solvay  This hotel designed by Victoria Horta is filled floor to ceiling with intricate ornamentation. The detailing from the hand...