Art Genre: Art Nouveau

Graphic illustrators near the end of the 19th century were concerned with shape, design and pattern. When he died, the man who so influenced graphic design and its elements was a mere 26 years of age. In his relatively brief adulthood, he formulated a greatly individualistic articulation of the art nouveau aesthetic, which has drawn imitation from numerous artists throughout the 20th century. This site teaches you about best graphic design outsourcing.

Oscar Wilde was arguably one of the most influential literary figures of this era; he appreciated all art, thinking it was an end unto itself and could not be evaluated with ethical or moral issues. Wilde chose this influential young artist to illustrate a certain story which is both exotic and perverse. With the use of sinister eroticism, some elegant sweeping lines and patterns, this young illustrator created clever distortions in his illustrations of this story.

There is an incredibly dramatic interplay between white and black that characterizes his work. This artist often used elegant patterns on a light surface, surrounded by heavy borders and negative space. In a style all his own, the artist presents large, flowing curves which seem to move upon an asymmetrical page. The characters depicted in his art hold intricate objects presented in great detail, but are just simple outlines themselves. It is the reciprocity between the straightforward and the complex that bolsters Wilde’s work and empowers it.

Japanese art, as well a a revival in medieval art forms and early Renaissance work inspired designers at the end of the 19th century. Wilde’s drawings ran in numerous famous and popular publications of the time. This led to widespread admiration and appreciate of his work in both the United States and throughout Europe. Artists imitated and copied his work at every opportunity. Framed prints and posters are available today to be framed and displayed. Many of these prints and posters are copies and reproductions of Wilde’s distinctive pieces. Go to this site for further information on graphic design freelancer.

Poster art evolved during the 19th century; it was first simply used as commercial advertising, and then changed into a completely different art form. Posters were some of the first things to be printed in color, all of the books still being printed in black and white. Artists learned and developed their talent at catching the public’s eye with large, bright and impressive graphic works. Product information was kept as minimal as possible. His process was to simplify the art in order to catch the viewer’s attention; he chose strong colors and simple lines. The lines produced by this artist were usually somewhat halting and broken, not unlike those of an impressionist’s work. These early graphic artists created pieces that were to become the foundation of art nouveau design.

The person who is credited with originating the proper art nouveau poster used stronger outlines and more billowing contours. These posters typically feature youthful, flowing, slender girls with cascading hair. Their hair continues off their bodies and shifts into capricious shapes. Other artists became noteworthy by limiting their canvas to tall, thin shapes, filled with the image of a single woman. To make the intricate and detailed patterns of the time, the artists would draw from many sources including fold art, Arab and Moorish decoration, Hebrew lettering, Celtic motifs, Japanese wood cuts and Byzantine mosaics.

Talented turn of the century graphic designers produced many drawings which can now be seen in reprints and books, if you look for them. In addition, there are antique merchants focusing on the sale of 19th and 20th century posters. Their booths can be found at collectibles shops and large international style antique shows. If a piece is in excellent condition, you can expect to pay from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

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