Rene Beauclair’s Art Nouveau Lily Pad Cushion

Rene Beauclair was a French textile designer in the early 1900’s. Art Nouveau was an international movement and style of art, architecture and applied art — especially the decorative arts — that peaked in popularity at the turn of the 20th century (1890 – 1905). The name 'Art nouveau' is French for 'new art. A reaction to academic art of the 19th century, it is chraacterised by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly-stylised, flowing curvilinear forms. Art Nouveau is an approach to design according to which artists should work on everything from architecture to furniture, making art part of everyday life.