| Artist: | Horta, Victor |
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|---|---|---|
| Title of Work: | Van Eetvelde House, interior Brussels | |
| Date of Work: | 1895 | |
| Nationality: | French | |
| Context: | The Turn of the Century | |
| Movement: | Art Nouveau | |
| Medium: | Architecture | |
| Subject: an Art Nouveau interior by a Belgian artist. Goes well beyond "form follows function" in this decorative, open space where light and a linear flow disrupt the old, static box space of previous room designs. Horta makes extensive use of the "stylized flower" motif in his exposed iron construction. The columns "grow" up to the clerestory like stalks of a plant. Style: Art Nouveau curves at their best with a flowing rhythm that just won't stop; the line climbs up around, disrupting all sense of rigid, geometric right angles in the process; nothing corners, but rather curves around in an organic, sinuous way. Horta makes extensive use of metal construction. Highly stylized to the point of line for line's sake. Context: turn of the century Art Nouveau, the first movement to truly call itself new (nouveau) and to embrace modern technology (expposed iron construction). It is also the first movement to truly become international. Picks up on the "stylized flower" motif from the Arts and Crafts movement, but leaves that movement's historical trappings behind. Moves further away from the 19th c. world of nature and closer to the 20th c. world of abstraction in the play of line for line's sake. | ||
