1890

Art Nouveau 

Art Nouveau was a movement in the visual arts popular from the early 1890's up to the First World War. It's influenced can be found in painting, sculpture, jewellery, metalwork, glass and ceramics. The drawings of Aubrey Beardsley and the poster designs of Alphonse Mucha are some of the most familiar examples of the style.
Art Nouveau was a movement that swept through the decorative arts and architecture in the late 19th and early 20th century. This style was aimed at modernising design, seeking to escape the eclectic historical styles that had previously been popular. Artists drew inspiration from both organic and geometric forms. Designs were evolved from elegant, natural forms to something with more angular contours. The movements was committed to abolishing the tradition hierarchy of the arts. The style went out of fashion to give way for Art Deco in the 1920's but it did experience popular revival in the 1960's. It is now seen as an important predecessor of modernism.

Aubrey Beardsley

Aubrey was an English illustrator and author. His drawings in black ink, influenced by the style of Japanese woodcuts, emphasised the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. He was a leading figure in the Aesthetic movement which also included Oscar Wilde and James A. McNeill Whistler. Beardsley's contribution to the development of the Art Nouveau and poster style was significant. Despite the brevity of his career before his early death from tuberculosis. He co-founded The Yellow Book with american writer Henry Harland and for the first 4 editions served as art editor and produced cover designs and many illustrations for the magazine. Beardsley was the most controversial artist of the Art Nouveau era. Renowned for his dark and grotesque erotica (which later were main themes in his work), it wasn't the norm imagery of the time. His most famous erotic illustrations for a privately printed edition of 'Aristophanes Lysistrata' and his drawings for Oscar Wilde's play Salome, which eventually premiered in Paris in 1896.

Alphonse Mucha

During his life Mucha produced many paintings, posters, illustrations, postcards and advertisements. Many of which are now dedicated to an Art Nouveau Exhibition. The subjects of his art were almost always beautiful young women (not uncommon of the time), often with long flowing hair and neoclassical robes, usually surrounded by flowers and nature, sometimes formed halos behind them. The use of these women would later develop into a key signature of his style.
Alphonse's success and rise to fame could be the plot of a modern day fairytale. According to a well known legend, Mucha met Sarah Bernhardt, the glorified star of french theatre in 1894, the day before christmas. Fresh out of Academie Julian, Mucha was working as an illustrator for a Parisian printer, when she came in. In desperate need for somebody to design the poster of her new show, Mucha rose to the occasion and created his first poster. Upon it's release he was the talk of the town. That earned Mucha a 6 year contract with the actress.
Upon the industrial revolution and the increased development of consumerism in the 18th century, printing techniques became increasingly refined and more sophisticated. By the 19th century the streets of Paris were decked out with all kinds of posters from both the general public and artists. The medium gained more and more respect. The commercial poster became a Parisian trend and due to Mucha's previous success he emerged a star. He was commissioned a multitude of works from places like Moet & Chandon, Job and Nestle, Champenois. He soon became internationally recognised.
He has influence on the development of decorative art and the Art Nouveau movement. Although Mucha didn't directly identify with the term.
Many of his posters included focus on one or more female characters that are glorified in their sensuality and beauty. Surrounded by flowing lines and curves, evoking a certain spirituality strong bond to nature.