Art Deco

While the name is derived from the 1925 Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes in Paris, the term "Art Deco" didn't actually appear in print until 1966. During its 1920s heyday, practitioners called it Style Moderne, Jazz Moderne, or simply "modernistic." It wasn't viewed as a single, cohesive movement at the time, but rather a global "lingua franca" of design that spanned everything from skyscrapers to vacuum cleaners.

The term only gained academic and popular currency in 1968 after historian Bevis Hillier published the first major book on the subject. Before this rebranding, the style was a fragmented collection of "Modernes"—ranging from the "Zigzag Moderne" of 1920s high-rises to the "Nautical Moderne" of ocean liners—all unified by a shared faith in social and technological progress.

Before the late 19th century, decorative artists—those who made furniture, jewelry, and textiles—were dismissed as mere craftsmen. Art Deco’s rise was fueled by a successful political push in France to grant these designers the same legal "rights of authorship" as painters and sculptors. This culminated in the founding of the Society of Decorative Artists (SAD) in 1901, which paved the way for designers like René Lalique and Louis Cartier to be celebrated as visionary creators.

This shift was accelerated by Parisian department stores like Printemps and Le Bon Marché, which established their own design studios (like the famous Primavera). By employing hundreds of artists to create "total environments" for the public, these stores moved Art Deco out of the galleries and into the homes of the growing middle class, blending high-end luxury with commercial accessibility.

Art Deco’s signature "look"—clean rectangular forms and straight lines—wasn't just an aesthetic choice; it was a byproduct of an engineering revolution. The development of reinforced concrete by pioneers like Auguste Perret allowed buildings to shed the thick, load-bearing walls of the past. Without the need for heavy pillars, architects were free to create the "Zeppelin-like" curves and soaring, unadorned surfaces that defined the era.

New industrial methods for mass-producing plate glass and aluminum also played a critical role. Large, strong windows became affordable for the first time, while lightweight aluminum (previously a rare metal) was repurposed for everything from window frames to furniture. These technologies allowed Art Deco to feel "modern" not just because of its decoration, but because it utilized materials that were physically impossible to use in previous centuries.

Art Deco was essentially a bridge between the avant-garde and the everyday. It took the "analytical Cubism" of Picasso—which was often too abstract for the general public—and simplified it into the "Section d’Or" style. This version of Cubism broke objects down into their geometric essentials (cones, spheres, and cylinders) in a way that was visually striking but still recognizable, making it perfect for wallpaper, fashion, and upholstery.

The movement was also a "thief" of global culture, aggressively incorporating the bright, clashing colors of the Fauvism movement and the Ballets Russes. It further enriched its palette by "exoticizing" styles from ancient Egypt, the Maya, and Japan. This eclectic mix created a style that felt both ancient and futuristic, satisfying the public's hunger for "exuberance" and "glamour" following the trauma of World War I.

The 1920s version of Art Deco was an "explosion of color" featuring rare, expensive materials like ebony, ivory, and silk. However, when the global economy collapsed in the 1930s, the style had to adapt or die. The result was Streamline Moderne, a more subdued and "functional" version of the style that prioritized aerodynamics and efficiency over floral motifs and gold leaf.

This later phase replaced handcrafted luxury with industrial materials like chrome plating, stainless steel, and early plastics. The focus shifted to the "machine aesthetic"—curving forms and smooth, polished surfaces that made buildings and objects look like they were moving at high speed. While the original Art Deco was about status and ornament, Streamline Moderne was about the "smoothness" of the machine age, eventually giving way to the purely functional International Style after World War II.