One of the most significant movements in the history of the decorative arts, Art Nouveau was born of a reaction to the rise of industrialism and inspired by the pioneering idealism of such radical geniuses as John Ruskin and William Morris. Architects and designers were seized with the desire to sweep away old traditions and create functional and original forms in an environment that would satisfy the demands of modern life. The distinctive new style rapidly became recognized the world over. Although it flowered only briefly, in the closing years of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, and while a great many of its creations have been destroyed, there still remain a myriad examples of its sinuous shapes and organically inspired beauty, whether in the work of individuals such as Victor Horta, Hector Guimard and Antoni Gaudí or in that of collectives such as the Glasgow School and the Wiener Werkstätte.
Compiled by Keiichi Tahara, one of the finest architectural photographers of his generation, Art Nouveau, is a lavish photographic survey of the most important Art Nouveau buildings, monuments and interiors throughout the length and breadth of Europe.