Take my word for it, Secessionist Art is really cool. It was one of the Art Nouveau disciplines that was popular between 1890 and 1910 and slightly predates Art Deco and was huge in Budapest. This modernist artist group included the likes of Gustav Klimt and Karoly Lotz, They were renegades who separated from the support of official academic art and its administrations during this period.
The Kiss – Gustav Klimt
Woman Bathing – Karoly Lotz
Budapest, like both Berlin and Vienna, was a hot bed for this new and exciting art movement. Some of the country’s most famous architects designed buildings in this style. Some of them were inspired by traditional Hungarian decorative designs, Transylvanian traditions, or Far East (Indian or Syrian) styles.
One of our favorites is the Museum of Applied Arts, designed by Odon Lechner and Gyula Partos from 1893 – 1896. It is the third oldest applied arts museum in the world. It is currently showing a very exciting exhibit of Hungarian Posters from the 1920s called Bolder Than Painting.
More Art Nouveau Architecture
Good old Alfred Steiglitz territory too! The Photo Secessionists – heavily influenced by this movement! In fact Steiglitz and Steichen were responsible I believe for showing some off the work in the 291 Gallery in NY. Sounds good! The art Nouveau is always a blast!!
I have to say however, that nothing beats the Russian Constructivist posters for their dynamics and energy! It’s a shame that posters today are not more considered in terms of graphic design! Have fun!