What Is Art Deco vs Mid-Century Modern?

Art|Modern Art

What Is Art Deco vs. Mid-Century Modern?

Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern are two distinct design styles that emerged in the early 20th century. Both styles were a reaction against the ornate Victorian aesthetic of the 19th century and embraced modern sensibilities with a focus on geometric shapes, bold colors, and simple lines. They were also popularized by Hollywood movies and art exhibitions around the world.

Art Deco originated in France between World War I and World War II as a response to the industrial revolution. It was characterized by sleek lines, geometric shapes, bold colors, and shiny materials such as chrome, stainless steel, and Bakelite.

The style was often used for decorative objects such as jewelry, furniture, lighting fixtures, and textiles. Art Deco is associated with luxury and glamour – think The Great Gatsby or Coco Chanel’s iconic little black dress.

In contrast to Art Deco’s ornate designs, Mid-Century Modern was characterized by clean lines, organic forms, minimalist details, natural materials such as wood and leather, bright colors such as turquoise and pink. It was popularized in post-war America in the 1950s by renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe whose work combined aesthetics with functionality to create timeless pieces of furniture which are still popular today.

The two styles may have been developed at different times but they have several similarities – both emphasize geometric shapes, bright colors and use modern materials such as chrome or stainless steel – but there are some key differences – Art Deco is associated with opulence while Mid-Century Modern is more understated but still elegant.

In conclusion – Art Deco is an opulent style that emerged in France between the two World Wars while Mid-Century Modern is a more minimalist style that emerged in post-war America in the 1950s. Both emphasize geometric shapes, bold colors and modern materials but differ when it comes to their association with luxury – Art Deco being more ornate while Mid-Century Modern being more understated yet still elegant.