Art Deco

The Art Deco style is so recognisable and widespread that its original influence on the culture in which it emerged has been all but lost in the clutter of imitation. This book draws our attention back to the birth of Art Deco—a period between two devastating world wars when industrialisation was flourishing, interest in archaeology was peaking, and movements such as Cubism, Constructivism, Futurism, and Modernism were turning the art world on its head.

Brilliantly designed to reflect the style it celebrates, Art Deco is filled with hundreds of examples of painting, architecture, interiors, jewellery, crafts, furniture, and fashion. Author Norbert Wolf traces the chronology of the Art Deco style by looking at the politics and culture of Europe in the 1920s and early 1930s, and the artistic movements that paralleled its popularity. He follows Art Deco's influence in Europe and its immigration to the Americas and Asia.

Most importantly, this wide-ranging volume looks beyond the era of Art Deco's origination to the present day. Pointing to the numerous revivals and contemporary echoes in painting and even literature, this beautiful volume demonstrates that Art Deco is alive and well today—often in forms where we least expect it.

About the Author

Norbert Wolf is an art historian. He lives and works as a private lecturer and freelance author in Munich. He has already published several books with Prestel, which include: Albrecht Durer, The World of the Saints, I Titian, and Erotic Sketchbooks from Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Oskar Kokoschka, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, and Edgar Degas.