Art Nouveau vs Art Deco: how to tell them apart
Art Nouveau (c. 1890 – 1910) and Art Deco (c. 1920s – 1930s) side by side.
Both were international decorative styles that shaped architecture, furniture, jewellery and posters, and they followed each other closely. The quickest way to tell them apart: Art Nouveau curves, Art Deco angles.
Side by side
| Art Nouveau | Art Deco | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | c. 1890–1910 | c. 1920s–1930s |
| Inspiration | Nature: plants, flowers, insects, flowing hair | The machine age, speed, Cubism, ancient Egypt |
| Lines | Flowing, asymmetrical "whiplash" curves | Straight lines, zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts, symmetry |
| Materials | Iron, glass, wood, enamel | Chrome, lacquer, stainless steel, exotic woods, Bakelite |
| Attitude | Handcraft and organic beauty | Modernity, luxury and mass production |
| Famous examples | Paris Métro entrances (Hector Guimard); Alphonse Mucha's posters | Chrysler Building, New York; the 1925 Paris exhibition |
Art Nouveau: key characteristics
- Flowing, curving 'whiplash' lines
- Forms inspired by plants, flowers and insects
- Unity of the arts: architecture, furniture, glass, jewellery and posters
- Use of new materials such as iron and glass
- Known as Jugendstil in Germany and Secession style in Austria
Key artists: Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha, Victor Horta, Otto Wagner, Henry van de Velde, Stanisław Wyspiański. Read the full Art Nouveau guide →
Art Deco: key characteristics
- Bold geometric shapes, zigzags and sunbursts
- Streamlined forms celebrating speed and the machine age
- Luxurious materials: lacquer, chrome, ivory and exotic woods
- Influences from Cubism, ancient Egypt and the Aztecs
- Architecture, interiors, fashion, jewellery and posters
Key artists: Tamara de Lempicka, Victor Horta, Eliel Saarinen, René Lalique, Alexey Shchusev, Erté. Read the full Art Deco guide →
Frequently asked questions
Which came first, Art Nouveau or Art Deco?
Art Nouveau came first, flourishing from about 1890 to the First World War. Art Deco followed in the 1920s and 1930s.
Where does the name Art Deco come from?
From the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. The short name became common only in the 1960s.