The late 19th century witnessed a genuine artistic counter-revolution, born of opposition to poor-quality mass production and rampant industrialization. It originated in Great Britain. In England, the Arts and Crafts movement ("arts and crafts") began to develop as early as 1860, seeking to restore the value of craftsmanship and rediscover work done by hand. The ideology underpinning this return to first principles spread across Europe, giving rise throughout the century's final decade to Art Nouveau in Belgium, France and Czechoslovakia, Jugendstil in Germany and Austria, and even inspiring the Mingei movement in Japan.
Breaking down barriers
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The architectural achievements of all these movements are generally well known (see Mathématiques et architecture, Bibliothèque Tangente 60, 2017), but the renewed appreciation for artisanal work extended to every field. Art Nouveau became an all-encompassing art form, breaking down the barrier that had previously separated the "major" and "minor" arts and seeking to offer everyone an ideal aesthetic environment, even in the smallest everyday object. It thus encompassed painting, sculpture and architecture as well as cabinetmaking and the production of cutlery, lamps, jewelry and glassware. By favoring curves and arabesques, it championed a rediscovery of nature—flora and fauna alike—while often depicting women.
