Thursday, August 18, 2011

Bonjour, Art Nouveau!

Today I went on an Art Nouveau tour with a group of seven lovely scientist-wives from all over the world.  Our husbands are all scientists and geo-chemists attending the annual Goldschmidt Conference.  We met at the conference steps, took a metro and then walked with our Czech tour guide through New Town over to Old Town, staring up at the gorgeous decorative buildings all along the way.  It's hard not to go anywhere in Prague without staring upward in awe!
Some here's a little amusee bouche of Art Nouveau from the beginning
of the 20th century:
You are not seeing things.  In this last photo, the soldier is actually riding on an upside down horse.  Our guide explained the meaning to this, but I actually didn't understand.  Perhaps when I go on the Franz Kafka tour tomorrow, I'll get a better idea.  In the meantime, here are some lovely examples of Art Nouveau from the Old Town:


The Art Nouveau movement was famous for beautiful stain glass windows and ornamental flair.  The artists were less floral and a little more subdued than the Rococo style of the mid-19th century, but more effusive than Art Deco which came in the 1920's.  J'adore Art Deco!

Of course, we are staying in an Art Nouveau hotel.  Hotel Paris!  (Where else would a French-loving-gal want to stay?)  By the way, it was the French wife of a Czech president Tomas Garik Masarik that brought Art Nouveau to Prague at the turn of the 20th century.  And then soon after, the famous Art Nouveau Czech artist Alphonse Muca who was born in the Czech Republic and studied art in Paris at the Academy, brought his beautiful style back to his beloved homeland.  He became famous after drawing the theatre portraits for the French actress Sarah Bernhardt.  Ooh la la!


Everywhere I go, I see the French influence!
C'est magnifique!  Oui?!

5 comments:

  1. Jamie these images are so interesting. The details are intricate and beautiful. What a fabulous way to spend a few hours totally immersed in art.
    Ooh La La!

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  2. What a wonderful trip! I was just watching a Rick Steves' segment about Prague moments before I read this post.
    Enjoy the rest of your stay!

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  3. How could I not J'adore Art Deco! You made my day. I am so enjoying going along on the arm chair version of traveling to Prague! Has just been a hard and horridly stressful week and a mini vacation was just what the doctor ordered! xx

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  4. Beautiful!! Not only do I love seeing you on two feet -- footloose and fancy free -- but also in Prague!

    I was there in 1992 and have always wanted to return... It is SO lovely!

    Wonderful blog!

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  5. Bonjour, Leslie, Andrienne, Ruby and Jessica--Yes, it's so lovely here! I will try to post more art nouveau in a day or so. Ruby, I'm so glad I could offer you a little respite from a stressful week! And Andrienne, I hope you get to come to Prague soon. Leslie, it is very ooh la la! And Jessica--you're so lucky to have been here in 1992 right after the Velvet Revolution. Wow, you are such a globetrotter! Love to all, Jamie

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