Art Nouveau
noun /ˌɑː nuˈvəʊ/ — A decorative style using flowing organic lines inspired by natural forms.
Definition
An international style of art, architecture, and design that flourished from the 1890s to the 1910s. Characterised by flowing, organic lines inspired by natural forms — particularly plants, flowers, and the female figure. Art Nouveau rejected industrialism in favour of handcrafted beauty.
Beyond the definition
Art Nouveau believed that beauty should be everywhere — not just in galleries, but in doorknobs and lamp posts and book covers. It was the conviction that ordinary things deserve to be extraordinary.
Origin & history
French: 'new art'. Named after the Paris gallery 'Maison de l'Art Nouveau'. Also known as 'Jugendstil' (youth style) in Germany, 'Stile Liberty' in Italy.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The Métro stations designed by Hector Guimard are masterpieces of Art Nouveau — organic ironwork blooming from the pavement.
She collected Art Nouveau jewellery: dragonfly brooches, enamel pendants shaped like irises.
The typeface had an Art Nouveau quality — letters that curled and flowered at their edges.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Art Nouveau” when the meaning fits your context: An international style of art, architecture, and design that flourished from the 1890s to the 1910s. Characterised by flowing, organic lines inspired by natural forms — particularly plants, flowers, and the female figure. Art Nouveau rejected industrialism in favour of handcrafted beauty.
Synonyms
organic design, Jugendstil, flowing style
Antonyms
bauhaus, minimalism, functionalism
Related words
Art Nouveau vs art-deco
Art Nouveau uses flowing, organic, natural lines. Art Deco, which followed it, favors sleek, geometric, and industrial shapes.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Organic Flowing Forms
A broad composition of a tree with bare twigs, budding leaves, and fallen leaves.
The flowing, organic lines of the tree, inspired by natural growth cycles, reflect Art Nouveau. It rejects industrial rigidity in favor of handcrafted beauty that finds its form in nature, flowers, and organic metamorphosis.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Art Nouveau" mean?
Art Nouveau is noun meaning: A decorative style using flowing organic lines inspired by natural forms.. An international style of art, architecture, and design that flourished from the 1890s to the 1910s. Characterised by flowing, organic lines inspired by natural forms — particularly plants, flowers, and the female figure. Art Nouveau rejected industrialism in favour of handcrafted beauty.
Where does the word "Art Nouveau" come from?
French: 'new art'. Named after the Paris gallery 'Maison de l'Art Nouveau'. Also known as 'Jugendstil' (youth style) in Germany, 'Stile Liberty' in Italy.