Like impressionism, Art Nouveau was a reaction to academic art. Characterised by organic, especially floral and other plant inspired motifs as well as highlt stylized flowing curvillineour forms.
Maude Adams as Joan of Arc, by Alfons Mucha, 1909
Alfons Mucha has used oil on canvas to produce this Art Nouveau painting. Most Art Nouveau paintings are chracterised by sinuous, assymetrical lines based on plant forms. Like many of his other peices Muchas has painted a healthy young woman in flowing vageuly Neoclassical looking robes. This also gives it a romantic feel. The flowers behind the womans head form a halo, making me see the symbolism influences as well as the dreamlike theme of the painting. The artisits decorative style means that the peice is full of detail and is interesting to look at. Even though the painting is of a scared woman, the pale pastel colours keep a calm and romatic atmosphere. Her perfectly flowing dress and hair add to this romantic style. The flowers in the painting have been used for more than background detail. They have been used to frame it and to decorate the whole peice. Although their colours are not dissiimilar to the womans dress they still stand out because of their bubbly shape against the dresses flowing lines. The painting has a very realistic look but the thechnique he has used to colour it gives it a flatter and more cartoony texture.
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