Rachel Serra
112 Honors Zipfel
TH 12:30
I-Search Paper
The Age of Art Deco: A Style That Modernized Design
The turn of the 20
th
century was marked by great innovation and change. New
inventions were implemented into society, new ideas were shared, and new styles of
dress and art were created. After the end of World War I, the 1920s was a time of high
spirits in America. Known as the Roaring 20s, this ten-year period changed the way
people behaved, dressed, and thought of one another. Women broke the restrictions that
had plagued them for years, people bought more and lived more extravagantly, vast cities
were erected, and, most importantly for the purposes of this paper, the style of Art Deco
emerged. This style was started by the Exposition internationale des arts dcoratifs et
industriels modernes (International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts)
in Paris, and it quickly spread around the globe. Art Deco had a major impact on the
artwork of the time and continues to be an influence to this day.
For this project, my group and I traveled to the Cincinnati Art Museum on a
sunny, late Saturday morning to view the Art Deco: Fashion and Design in the Jazz
Age exhibit. I worked with two other girls in the class, one of whom is also a DAAP
student like me. Because both of us are so obviously involved with and enjoy art, we
decided that going to see an art exhibit would be the most relatable and interesting event
to attend and our third partner agreed. This was the initial interest in going to the show,
however I do actually have a fascination with the culture of the 1920s. It was such a
glamorous time, so alive and invigorating. Because of this, I was able to use this visit for
my research paper but also for my own personal enjoyment. Therefore my experience
ended up being much more worthwhile than if I had just attended a random performance
or show.
Being an art student, and one that actually enjoys learning about art history, has
its advantages when it comes to knowing about different styles and periods of art. I knew
all the basics about Art Deco going to this exhibit. I knew that it started in the 1920s in
Paris, France and then spread worldwide. It continued into the 1930s and even into the
early 1940s. Art Deco was not just an artistic movement; it was an all-encompassing
design aspect that stretched from art, fashion, jewelry, architecture, interior and industrial
design, and even film. It was very streamlined and decorative and gave the feeling of
being both elegant and functional. These are just the basics about Art Deco, but knowing
this gave me a decent background on which to learn more specifics about the style.
Going into this exhibit I was not entirely sure what to expect. I knew that there
would be a collection of 1920s style dresses there and that was definitely what I was most
excited to see. The fashion of that era was so dramatic and intricate. Everything was
handmade out of expensive materials and made to stand out. I love how much the style of
womens clothing was revolutionized during this period. However, other than the fashion
aspect, I was not sure what else to expect from this exhibit, whether it be drawings,
jewelry, or even music. Overall, I felt that the variety of objects and art pieces presented
in the exhibit allowed for a wide view of the style of Art Deco. The exhibit included, of
course, several gorgeous examples of 1920s dresses, as well as ceramic vases,
photographs of architectural samples, jewelry, handbags, perfume bottles, furniture,
handkerchiefs, and covers of a Parisian fashion magazine calledLa Gazette du Bon Ton.
The collection as a whole had a very feminine touch to it. This was due to the fact that the
centerpieces were the dresses. Although the historical significance of the exhibit is
directed towards anyone, I felt that the target audience for this show was definitely
women, especially those with an interest in fashion or architecture. Women would be
able to connect the most with the fashion and design.
The pieces in the exhibit were compiled together in a smaller size gallery in the
middle of the second floor of the art museum. While nicely laid out with apt and
informative descriptions for each object, in my opinion the gallery itself did not do much
to either enhance or hinder the layout of the work. The space was filled out nicely by the
pieces and did not become a distraction for the viewer, but it also did not enrich the
collection in any special way. The Cincinnati Art Museum itself is a beautiful structure
that is just as aesthetically beautiful on the outside as the work on the inside. The building
well represents the quality of work and exhibition that it contains within its walls in
general but did nothing to specifically enhance the exhibit itself.
The question I formulated to research on the topic of Art Deco did not come about
until after I visited the museum. At the start of the exhibit was a black, shimmery dress.
In its caption, the dress was described as being modeled after the architectural styles of
the new skyscrapers. I found this fact to be extremely interesting, that although they were
from the same period and style, Art Deco fashion and architecture mimicked and
influenced each other. Then again, later on in the exhibit, I came across a perfume bottle
whose caption read that its design was also influenced by the architectural styles of the
day. Because of these facts, I have decided to ask the question Did architecture have an
influence on other designs of the Art Deco period and if so how prominent was it?
The first thing I had to research to answer this question was Art Deco architecture
itself; what were the characteristics, who supported it, what was created, and what is still
significant today? Art Deco was originally called Style Moderne and was not given the
name Art Deco until 1968 (Art Deco Style [Link]). Art Deco architecture
was influenced by several cultures and ideas. It shows a combining of several movements
before it, including Cubism, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and Futurism (Art Deco: The
American Architecture Influence [Link]). The streamlined features of the
buildings were a result of the new technologies of the early 20
th
century. The decorative
qualities came from the stylings of ancient cultures like Greece, Rome, Africa, India,
Mayan, Aztec, and especially Egypt (Art Deco Architecture [Link]).
After the discovery of King Tuts tomb in 1922 the publics interest in Egypt grew
exponentially and was reflected in many aspects of design, including architecture. Art
Deco architectural forms were very geometric and dramatic. They featured strong lines,
bright bands of color, zig-zag designs, abstract symbols, and in essence, were made
purely to be decorative (Art Deco Architecture [Link]). Skyscrapers
are most recognized as being of the Art Deco style but everything from department stores
to hotels to movie theaters to private homes reflected this movement.
Although Art Deco architecture can be found in certain places in France and
England, North America, especially the United States, was responsible for its widespread
use and dramatic quality (Avery 50-51). One of the pioneers of this movement in
America was Raymond Hood, an architect who readily embraced the characteristics of
Art Deco in his work. He is best known for the Radio City Music Hall auditorium and
foyer, the RCA building at the Rockefeller Center, and the New York Daily News
building, three incredibly recognizable structures. William Van Alen was another
architect who embraced the Art Deco movement. His most famous work, the Chrysler
Building, is arguably the most well known example of Art Deco architecture. Van Alen
was inspired by machine technology and this inspiration is reflected in the ornamentation
of the building. (1925-1937: Art Deco [Link]) The Chrysler Building,
and so many other skyscrapers like it, became icons to represent what Art Deco was all
about: individualism and a new type of freedom. These structures embodied the attitude
of the time period, soaring high to showcase the economic prosperity of the time (Wood
12, 15). Art Deco structures still stand and are used today in cities all over the world,
such as New York City, Havana, Cuba, Miami, Florida, and Napier, New Zealand. A
resurgence of Art Deco occurred in the 1980s, and it became an influence for future
movements like pop art. (Art Deco: The American Architecture Influence
[Link]) The architecture developed during the Art Deco movement memorializes
that period of time for generations today.
After learning this information about architecture in general, I could then work on
getting an answer to my initial question of Did architecture have an influence on other
designs of the Art Deco period and if so how prominent was it? I looked through many
sources trying to find an answer and the truth is, that there is no basic yes or no answer to
my question. Did architecture have an influence on other Art Deco designs such as
fashion? Yes. However, all kinds of things, including other Art Deco designs like those in
fashion, had an impact on architecture. It was a cycle. There were certain undeniable
characteristics of Art Deco that stretched across the board, but everyone included their
own twist to it and borrowed ideas and symbols from other works. For example, the
recognizable sunburst motif was used in designs for womens shoes, radiator grilles, the
Radio City Music Hall auditorium, and the top of the Chrysler Building (The History of
Visual Communication [Link]). This simple symbol was borrowed and reused
from one design to another, and, while they obviously influenced one another, it is hard
to discern who was first. The characteristics that came to make up Art Deco were all
ideas that were taken from one branch of design and translated into another. It was such a
versatile, sleek, modern style of art that it could easily be redesigned to function in
several contexts. So to answer my own question, architectural elements during the Art
Deco period did in fact have an influence on other designs, but those designs had just as
much of an impact on architecture.
The artistic movement of Art Deco modernized design in the 20
th
century.
Spurred on by the group Exposition internationale des arts dcoratifs et industriels
modernes (Interantional Expositionof Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts), Art Deco
developed into an entire style of culture. Characterized by sleek lines, geometric forms,
bright colors, and intense ornamentation, the Art Deco period reigned supreme during a
time when luxury and class were the goals in life. The resulting effect of functionality
and elegance made Art Deco liked by the masses. Architecture played a significant role
in the spread of Art Deco and it influenced, and was influenced by, the results of other
forms of Art deco art. I find, reflecting back on all of my research, that it made sense for
architecture to have a prominent role in this movement. The early 20
th
century brought an
immense amount of change to the lifestyle in America, and the 1920s was especially
known for its time of economic prosperity. It stands to reason that a concrete symbol of
power be used to represent this success. Large, functional structures are able to depict and
capture the essence of this time and all of its innovation. Recognizable buildings like the
Chrysler building serve as a daily reminder of this period in art history and how
significant of a role it played.
Works Cited
"Architecture History Photo Guide - Art Deco - Art Deco Architecture Chrysler Building
in New York." Architecture and House Styles and Building Design. Web. 4 Nov. 2011.
<[Link]
"Art Deco: The American Architecture Influence." [Link] on HubPages. Web. 4
Nov. 2011. <[Link]
ArchitectureInfluence>.
"Art Deco Architecture - History of Art Deco Architecture." Architecture and House
Styles and Building Design. Web. 4 Nov 2011.
<[Link]
"Art Deco Style - Art Deco Design and History." Home Decor - Home Furnishings,
Lighting and Architectural Products. Web. 4 Nov. 2011.
<[Link]
Avery, Derek. Art Deco. London: Chaucer, 2004. Print.
"The History of Visual Communication - The Modernists." Citrinitas. Web. 4 Nov.
2011. <[Link]
Wood, Ghislaine. Essential Art Deco. Boston: Bulfinch/AOL Time Warner Book Group,
2003. Print.
