Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art". The style was influenced strongly by Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, when Mucha produced a lithographed poster, which appeared on 1 January 1895 in the streets of Paris as an advertisement for the play "Gismonda" by Victorien Sardou, featuring Sarah Bernhardt. It popularised the new artistic style and its creator to the citizens of Paris. Initially named Style Mucha, (Mucha Style), his style soon became known as Art Nouveau.
This is a Mucha's poster that marked the beginning of the given style:
The style was richly ornamental and asymmetrical, characterized by organic and dynamic forms, curving design, and whiplash lines. Its exponents chose themes fraught with symbolism, frequently of an erotic nature. They imbued their designs with dreamlike and exotic forms.
The outstanding representatives of Art Nouveau include British graphic artists such as Aubrey Beardsley, Charles Ricketts, Walter Crane; the Scottish architect Charles R. Mackintosh, as well as Australian painter Gustav Klimt.
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