Historical and Cultural Context

Art Deco or art deco - An art movement involving a mix of modern decorative art styles, largely of the 1920's and 1930's, whose main characteristics were derived from various avant-garde painting styles of the early twentieth century. Art deco works exhibit aspects of Cubism, Russian Constructivism and Italian Futurism-- with abstraction, distortion, and simplification, particularly geometric shapes and highly intense colors--celebrating the rise of commerce, technology, and speed.

The growing impact of the machine can be seen in repeating and overlapping images from 1925; and in the 1930's, in streamlined forms derived from the principles of aerodynamics.

The name came from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs Industriels et Modernes, held in Paris, which celebrated living in the modern world.

It was popularly considered to be an elegant style of cool sophistication in architecture and applied arts which range from luxurious objects made from exotic material to mass produced, streamlined items available to a growing middle class. (http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/artdeco.html)

Glamour - Erté - http://home.att.net/~star_child/erte7.html

Today, "Art Deco" is used to refer to a mix of styles from the 1920's and 1930's. - http://www.arts.ilstu.edu/exhibits/pcfare/deco.html

Artcyclopedia - http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/art-deco.html

• René Lalique - 1860-1945 - French Glassmaker
• Jean Dunand - 1877-1942 - Swiss Designer
• Raymond Hood - 1881-1934 - American Architect

Jean Dupas (1882-1964) and Jean Dunand (1877-1942) - Chariot of Aurora - 1935 gold leaf and lacquer on plaster, approx 18x26 feet - http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/cmag/bk_issue/1999/janfeb/feat5.htm

• Jean Dupas - 1882-1964 - French Designer
• William Van Alen - 1883-1954 - American Architect

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Paul Manship - Diana - 1925 -
http://www.bsu.edu/artmuseum/collection/19thearly20thcentury/19th9.html

• Paul Manship - 1886-1966 - American Sculptor
• C. Paul Jennewein - 1890-1978 - German/American Sculptor
• Erté 1892-1990 - Russian/French Painter/Designer
• Lurelle Guild 1898-1986 - American Designer

Tamara de Lempicka - Self Portrait in the Green Bugatti - 1925 -
http://sagemore.com/a337.html

• Tamara de Lempicka - 1898-1980 - Polish/American Painter - WOW!

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