The Essence of Art Nouveau

by Paul Greenhalgh. (2000) Published by Harry N Abrams, Inc.

This is a straightforward, enjoyable little treatise about one of my favorite art movements. It wasn’t quite what I was looking for; a better title would be Art Nouveau and Its Sources. Greenhalgh gives a thumbnail overview of the history of Art Nouveau and then gives us glimpses into the various influences that came together to form the style. The images are lovely: my favorite is the plate from Ernst Haeckel’s 1898 biology text Kunstform der Natur showing delicate, curvilinear patterns in aquatic siphonophorae that are clearly reflected in the work of Art Nouveau designers.
This is a very good book for the reader who would rather spend more time looking at art than thinking too deeply about the theory behind it.