Art Noveau (Vienna Secession)

Over the course of two decades (1890-1910), a period often referred to as the golden age of European social life, this style influenced not only the young artists. The significantly decorative style utilizing new materials and unusual color schemes, with an emphasis on curves and floral motifs, also won over an older generation of architects, painters, and sculptors. This generation grew up in the tradition of historicism and artistic seriousness. Art Nouveau emerged from the transformation of Neo-Baroque and created an entirely unique concept.

The Art Nouveau movement throughout Europe is not only reflected in architecture, but also in art. The charm of Art Nouveau, however, lay mainly in how it permeated everyday life. Women’s fashion, jewelry, posters on the streets, furniture, and tableware – everything was marked by Art Nouveau design.

The distinguishing features of Art Nouveau are motifs of flowers and leaves intertwined with depictions of beautiful women. Furthermore, new production techniques attempted to blur the boundary between fine and applied arts or between classicism and modernism, which is why Art Nouveau was referred to as the “new art” (art nouveau). Designers, artists, and architects of the Art Nouveau movement believed that all visual elements should work together to create a complete artistic work not only in buildings but also in furniture, textiles, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Art Nouveau architecture also shaped the face of Prague. It left us with beautiful buildings and interiors – the Municipal House (Obecní dům) or the Topič Building, the insurance company building on Spálená Street, the current location of the Goethe Institute on Masarykovo nábřeží, the Main Train Station with the Fanta Café, as well as the Čech Bridge and the Jan Hus Monument on Old Town Square. And, of course, the Czech Republic is represented by the great exponent of Art Nouveau art, Alfons Mucha.

There are a number of hotels in Prague that are precious Art Nouveau architectural monuments. Most of the original elements have been preserved, primarily on the building’s façade and in some cases in the hotel restaurant, but most of the hotel rooms are decorated in a modern style.