Art Nouveau: Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century
Art Nouveau is an elegant decorative art style characterized by intricate patterns of curving lines. Its origins somewhat rooted in the British Arts and Crafts Movement of William Morris, Art Nouveau was popular across Europe and in the United States as well.
Leading practitioners included Alphonse Mucha, Aubrey Beardsley, Gustav Klimt and the American glassmaker Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Art Nouveau remained popular until around the time of World War I, and was ultimately replaced by the Art Deco style.
Art Deco: 1920''''''''s to 1930''''''''s
Art Deco is an elegant style of decorative art, design and architecture which began as a Modernist reaction against the Art Nouveau style. It is characterized by the use of angular, symmetrical geometric forms. One of the classic Art Deco themes is that of 1930s-era skyscrapers such as New York''''''''s Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. The former, designed by architect William Van Alen, is considered to be one of the world''''''''s great Art Deco style buildings.
The Art Deco look is related to the Precisionist art movement, which developed at about the same time.
Well-known artists within the Art Deco movement included Tamara de Lempicka, fashion illustrator Erte, glass artist Rene Lalique and graphic designer Adolphe Mouron (known professionally Cassandre).