Paris at the dawn of the 20th century

In 1900, Paris entered a new era of mobility with the inauguration of the Paris Metro that has become the symbol of the city.

Hector Guimard crowned the iconic metro entrances with his organic, curvilinear forms that epitomised Art Nouveau - an art movement that peaked in popularity throughout Europe at the turn of the last century. There are many fine examples of architecture in this style, notably by Victor Horta in Brussel and Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona.

Cast-iron balustrade decorated in botanic motifs

The last vestiges of Art Nouveau in Paris are probably best preserved in Musee Carnavalet.  Czech artist Alphonse Mucha's design for the Fouquet jewellery shop in Paris in 1900 was reassembled here after its removal from the original site. Also of interest is an interior designed by Guimard.

Mucha's Art Nouveau design was also popularised by Liberty & Co in London

In Germany, the decorative style of Art Nouveau is termed Jugenstil

Guimard's sinuous forms in a domestic setting

One of the most interesting aspects of Art Nouveau is the philosophy behind it.  Art should be a way of life.  The movement was a reaction against all things classical and aimed to break down the barriers between fine arts and applied arts.  The fact that everyday objects could be a work of art in the 1900s underlines a new way of thinking in modern society and the changing attitude towards the nature of art.   

It seems least surprising that in 1917 avant-garde artist, Marcel Duchamp, created his most prominent work, Fountain, out of a urinal.  It was Dadaism but it also raised important questions about the concept of art that even artists of today are still trying to address.