art nouveau

[ ahrt noo-voh, ahr; French ar-noo-voh ]

noun

, (often initial capital letters)

1. a style of fine and applied art current in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized chiefly by curvilinear motifs often derived from natural forms.

Art Nouveau

/ ɑː nuːˈvəʊ; ar nuvo /

noun

1. 1. a style of art and architecture of the 1890s, characterized by swelling sinuous outlines and stylized natural forms, such as flowers and leaves
   2. ( as modifier )

      an Art-Nouveau mirror

Word History and Origins

Origin of art nouveau¹

1900–05; < French: literally, new art

Word History and Origins

Origin of art nouveau¹

French, literally: new art

Example Sentences

Ferrell’s aesthetic, like her music, is a singular blend that joins past with present: 19th century carnival-core, art nouveau huntress, cosmic cowgirl, anime pixie and futuristic Las Vegas showgirl.

From Los Angeles Times

"It was just basically the art nouveau interior and the way the whole thing looked."

From BBC

Or was it the hand-painted porcelain plate with the exceptional art nouveau design I happened upon at a Redmond antique mall?

From Seattle Times

Famed for his bold, daring art nouveau paintings, Klimt was a key figure in artistic modernism at the start of the 20th century.

From Seattle Times

A later segment is dedicated to the art nouveau dancer Marie Louise Fuller and her efforts “to disappear inside the rigors and extravagance of her work” by swathing herself in otherworldly costumes.

From Washington Post