Art Nouveau Collection

The world of Art Nouveau was dominated by the curved line. This new era, which reigned supreme for two decades from 1890 to 1910, was an exciting time of change. In the world of art, Toulouse-Lautrec and his posters, Cezanne and his mountains, Van Gogh and his sunflowers, were all examples of the changing world.

Design curves occasionally met and intertwined, creating an unexpected effect, which became a new and exciting graphic style. This was very much the case in Brussels, with the growth of the decorative arts reaching its pinnacle in architecture, with men such as Victor Horta, Ernest Delune and Raphael Evaldre all playing pivotal roles. The Belgian contributors to Art Nouveau were among the most influential and were supported by the intellectual and progressive members of an affluent bourgeoisie, as art cannot survive in society without support. Although, for a time it reigned supreme, the Art Nouveau style was not without its critics, with its opponents speaking in the name of tradition.

These inspired architects and designers led the Art Nouveau movement, wanting to transform living areas with space and light and to replace the straight line with the curve. Their use of curves imparted a natural rhythm and energised the relationship between the interior and exterior of buildings in Brussels which we can still appreciate to this day.