Art Deco is an artistic movement that began in the 1920s and continued until about 1940. It is characterized by its use of geometric shapes, bold colors, and strong lines. Art Deco was a reaction to the ornate and intricate designs of the Art Nouveau movement that preceded it.
The Art Deco style is often associated with luxury, glamor, and opulence. It was used in many public buildings such as train stations and skyscrapers to convey a sense of sophistication and modernity. Many famous landmarks built during this period are still standing today, such as the Chrysler Building in New York City and the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana.
Art Deco also had an influence on interior design, furniture, jewelry, fashion, film posters, advertising art, printmaking, typography, and even automobiles. Designers such as Raymond Loewy created iconic designs that are still popular today. There were also some unique objects produced during this time such as Bakelite radios and clocks made from chrome-plated steel or Bakelite plastic.
The term “Art Deco” was coined in 1925 by French art historian Bevis Hillier in his book Art Deco of the 20s & 30s. Hillier described it as “a new style for a new century” that combined traditional craftsmanship with modern industrial techniques. This idea of combining tradition with modernity has been seen throughout all aspects of design since then.
The influence of Art Deco can be seen in many modern styles such as Mid-Century Modern or Retro Futurism which often incorporate elements from the Art Deco era into their designs.
So is Art Deco Postmodern? The answer is yes and no. While it does have many characteristics associated with postmodernism such as its use of past styles combined with modern elements, it cannot be classified solely as postmodern because it predates most postmodern art movements by several decades.
Therefore we can conclude that while Art Deco has influenced many aspects of contemporary design culture by introducing certain elements into other styles such as Mid-Century Modern or Retro Futurism, it cannot be classified directly as Postmodern itself due to its origins prior to most postmodern movements.