what is art deco?

we always hear that in the 1920s the movement of art deco was evolved, common and widely used. 

but what is art deco ? what does it mean ? in the twenties ?

The mood during the 1920s was optimistic and the future seemed bright. World War I was over and the economy was booming throughout the world. The Roaring Twenties ushered in a spirit of frivolity, luxury and a sense of freedom and hopefulness.

Jazz music was all the rage, women had won the right to vote and the flapper further liberated women. Leisurely travel gained popularity when in 1923, Coco Chanel returned from a cruise to Cannes, sporting a hot new accessory - sun tanned skin!

The Machine Age was in full swing and technology was rapidly improving the quality of life. This was the age that introduced the radio, the printing press, the skyscraper and modernized transportation.

There was a sense of excitement and expectancy in the air, a time of anticipating a future filled with promise. And it was during this hustle and bustle of activity that the Art Deco style began to emerge.

The term Art Deco (1925-1950) came from the International Art Exposition in Paris in 1925.  Art of this style, in the 20s and 30s was referred to as modern. Designers included Karl Weber and Eliel Saarinen.

Art Deco History Themes

The themes that emerged from the Exhibition were 'Modernity', 'Technology' and 'Luxury & Leisure'. Although the Exhibition in Paris featured the works of French artists the Art Deco movement was a global one, with deep roots in other European countries, Egypt, India, East Asia, Latin America, South Africa, Australia, United States, Mexico and Cuba. The 'look' of Art Deco is often difficult to describe, as it is an eclectic mix of styles, however it has the "you know it when you see it" quality about it. (Fulford, 2003).

The Classic Art Deco Look
Art Deco is most commonly associated with a sleek aesthetic, symmetrical geometric shapes and bold bright colors like yellow, purple, ruby and turquoise.Skyscrapers, furniture, and everyday objects were embellished with angular patterns like zigzags, sunburst and chevrons. Automobiles, trains, ocean liners and other means of transport began to take on a more futuristic, aerodynamic look. Steel, glass and lacquered wood were used to achieve that sleek, modern look. The booming economy allowed for the liberal use of expensive materials, such as diamonds and onyx in jewelry, andmahogany and ivory in furniture.


As leisurely travel came into vogue, a need for marketing exotic destinations to the young and affluent became increasingly important. Major advances in Graphic Designwere happening during this time and in turn there was a mass producing of advertising paraphernalia that came out of the Art Deco era, most notably the travel poster.
According to Art Deco history, Deco was intended to be a "Modernist follow-up to Art Nouveau" (HuntFor.com, 2007) and historians often speak about Art Deco history in contrast to Art Nouveau. Where Art Nouveau was stylized and curvilinear, Art Deco was streamlined and linear.