Art déco

Prior to 1925 this trend was also known as modernism or modern style. Art deco is the international decorative style that was born in France in the twenties years of XX century. Firstly it was inspired with colours and costumes of Diagilew Russian ballet and Paul Poiret fashion. With time art deco also influenced paintings of constructivism, cubism, fauvism and futurism. Discovery of Tut"s tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter resulted in Egyptian elements present in art déco. This new aesthetics made for a change of cities all over the world, from New York up to Shanghai. It had an impact on design, fashion, Hollywood productions, and also furniture and luxuries passenger liners. Art deco" name was established in 1925 during Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, international exhibition of the best project. Absence of the United States in this event was quite evident, as it was said that this country has little to offer in this area. The Chrysler building, designed by William Van Alen and Empire State Building built in 1930 in NY were in fact omitted.

In France art déco focused mainly on a luxury items market. It touched each field of art, beginning from paintings of Tamara Łempicka who was born in Poland (1898-1980), through graphic arts and scenic projects of Robert (1885-1941) and Sonia (1885-1980) Delaunay, up to items from glass made by Rena Lalique. Advertisement posters were very simple and had clear outlines what was quite evident in case of „Normandie" liner ship, prepared by Cassandre (1935). To express their admiration for speed, voyage and luxury art deco graphic designers applied vivid colours and flat, angular shapes.

With regard to designing and interior furniture two separate styles developed: Boudoir style of the twenties that made use of luxurious materials as e.g.in case of oriental furniture of Jacques-Emil Ruhlmann, and "slicked" modern style evident in works of Le Corbusier and his followers. In the twenties of XX centaury American designers were inspired by mechanical and industrial forms and they used geometrical patterns, colourful, simple pictures, glazed kids and thunders (to symbolize electricity), and omnipresent zigzags that were repeated so often to make for overlapping. As a result art déco developed from decorative style into elegant style of the thirties.

Hollywood style.

In the USA art déco featured mainly with splendour, fantasy and escapism. The style inspired with Hollywood sceneries and fashion was evident almost everywhere: in Broadway extravagant productions, interiors and architecture of skyscrapers. Consequently American architecture of early thirties of XX century was dominated with Egyptian and Aztec elements and... geometry as e.g. the mentioned Chrysler Building, Empire State Building and Rockefeller Centre in New York. In Great Britain Hollywood style was evident in interiors full of splendour and rich flourish, furnished with leopard upholstery and golden, decorated with waves walls. This style was evident in case of Odeon cinema network in London and nearby this city.