In this essay, I will be discussing two design movements that contrast each other in its architectural form. The first being gothic, In the late 18th century, the term gothic was a widely popular architectural style to decorate the interior of buildings , which can now be seen through the Notre dame in Paris (BBC Homes Design Gothic . 17 September 2014) (which was one of the earliest French cathedrals to be built in the Gothic style, including flying buttresses that support the weight of the stone, which helped make the walls thinner to make it more spacious) (Gothic Architecture – Victoria and Albert Museum. 2018).
However, it initially became known as a horror like design, from being criticised in churches as it was considered non-Christian, especially with the connotations to horror stories. This idea started to change as it became westernised to become exclusive to just Christianity, being used today in churches such as the pointed arches and decorative windows (BBC – Homes – Design – Gothic . 17 September 2014.). These followed on with flying buttresses that helped to create a strong stone tall structure, with the use of stained-glass windows to create decorative interior ( Encyclopedia Britannica. Oct 13, 2009 Gothic architecture) following kaleidoscopic patterns that added bright lights, which complimented the cathedral architecture (My Modern Met. 14 November 2017. Gothic Architecture Characteristics That Define the Gothic Style. Kelly Richman-Abdou). ¬¬
Another design movement is Art nouveau, meaning new art, is a based-on nature, including whiplash lines (thick and thin lines) that appear organic and in its most natural form, which were always present in any form of art nouveau design (Kerr, G. (2009). Art nouveau. Bath: Pulteney Press, book pp.pg 12), being inspired by plant life and the natural forms of women, creating curve linear. Charles Mackintosh, who worked oppositely to Antonio Gaudi, focused on the style of art nouveau being based on floral (Kerr, G. (2009). Art nouveau book pg 10) and sources of nature that contrasted the sculpted stone work (Kerr, G. (2009). Art nouveau book pg 9). However, flat abstract shapes and decorative patterns were also introduced, involving shading to create three dimensional shapes (Kerr, G. (2009). Art nouveau pg12 book), as functionality was sacrificed to make it a beautiful piece of art. (Kerr, G. (2009). Art nouveau book pg 12 art nouveau).
This was introduced through the arts and crafts movement, which was a development of the cluttered and messy designs. Also, through Japanese art from artist katsuchika Hokusai, which is what many other designers such as Henri de Toulouse became inspired from, especially from the rounded curves and floral patterns. ( The Art Story. 2018. Art Nouveau Movement, Artists and Major Works but Artists started to move away from the decorative applications and treated the visible as if it was through a window, creating organic movement as if everything’s alive. Japanese art became fairly popular within the art nouveau movement, with the flat perspective and vibrant colours (Kerr, G. (2009). Art nouveau book pg 11).
Gothic and art nouveau, even though being different movements, they both have similarities in the style of architecture through the use of incorporating naturalism, especially with both being used in churches. They both pay close attention to natural forms, such as plants and female bodies, to create realistic patterns. (Gothic Architecture – Victoria and Albert Museum. 2018) they both follow the stylised leaves to decorate traditional buildings in England, show in Romanesque buildings. Gothic architecture includes much slender columns with carvings and ribs (Khan Academy. Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) Valerie Spanswick.), which follows onto art nouveau buildings as they are also quite light and decorative, having large spaces (The Art Story. 2018. Art Nouveau Movement, Artists and Major Works). The natural form has been used as the main focus point for the individual movements, from going back to the history of gothic architecture when it came to England, it consisted of plant decoration and stone pendants that created canopy’s that would burst to life, following the style of art nouveau as this also followed naturalism (BBC – Homes – Design – Art nouveau period style. September 2014.), for example the mosaic wall in Spain (figure 1) that used broken ironwork and ceramic pieces to add decoration to more structural objects, adding colour and richness to a simple and modern form
(GaudiAllGaudi.com. 6 December 2018. Art Nouveau Mosaic in Catalonia). The natural pieces become collaged to create beautiful imagery, but still following the natural broken pieces to jigsaw it together. This also can be used for religion purposes, that follows similar characteristics to a sacred gothic church.
one piece of architecture by Antonio Gaudi (figure 2) follows both design movements: gothic and art nouveau, from the horror like balcony’s that are pointed with bellowed buttress. This supports the similarities of art nouveau and gothic, showing the curved figures that follow an s shape (BBC – Homes – Design – Art nouveau period style. September 2014) , that gives life and movement to look elegant (Gothic Architecture – Victoria and Albert Museum. 2018) . This can be seen through Gaudi’s work, (figure 2) as the balconies have the bone like structure that relates to the horror design but looking as if it has sprung to life into plant-derived forms (phone). The oddly shaped windows and fluid intricate details also supports art nouveau architecture, looking naturally grown. (Kerr, G. (2009). Art nouveau book pg 9 ).
Another similarity is the use of stained-glass windows that is a main feature of sacred gothic architecture. Even though being in high gothic arches, the detailed designs and patterns within the window support art nouveau, from the curved natural patterns that follows the Japonesque style. They are quite intricate and are used to add colour to the more gothic cathedrals/buildings, helping to bring light, this also helped move it away from the spookier approach that relates to horror, especially as they are there to tell bible stories in bright imagery, creating an important religious message to visitors (Study.com. 2018. Stained Glass Windows in Gothic Architecture Stephanie Przybylek). Therefore, the movements of art nouveau and gothic are shown to be complimentary to each other within sacred architecture. An example of this is the Wickhambreaux 14th century church in Kent, figure 3, where the stained-glass windows are framed with tracery, that separates the glass to create a webbed effect and add structure, contrasting to the finely detailed design. These windows in particular are long and narrow, with pointed arches, that helps the design to be focused on the centre, where the boldest colour is placed. (Study.com. 2018. Stained Glass Windows in Gothic Architecture Stephanie Przybylek).
The two design movements can be seen as different, through the use of architecture and their characteristics. Gothic architecture focuses on pointed arches, which is the most important feature as they gave the impression of soaring heights that framed the interior of churches and cathedrals (Gothic Architecture – Victoria and Albert Museum. 2018). This can be shown through the diagonal ribs that were added within Romanesque church architecture (Frankl, P (2000). Gothic Architecture book. 1st ed. Yale University Press. Pg 1 introduction). ¬¬This can be seen as different to art nouveau from the curvier lines and rounded edges that are included, which was taken inspiration from Aubrey Beardsley from the striking black and white lines that depicted femme fatale, therefore contrasting in shape. Even though gothic styles can be curved, that can be seen as a similarity, such as Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, it did go back to being neater and focus on symmetry (Khan Academy. Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) Valerie Spanswick.), with circular windows and Rectangular Bell Towers (What are the characteristics of Gothic architecture? – Quora. 26 September 2015. Aditi-Shrivastava).
Gothic architecture can appear also quite dark and horror like, with the use small but high arches that are made of stone, whereas art nouveau is more delicate, such as the form of flower stalks and insect wings. The delicacy comes from the Japonesque design that can be seen through Aubrey Beardsley work ‘the peacock skirt’, with the use of floral patterns, unlike churches that are more structured and webbed to create a horror design. The high
arches in gothic architecture are used to add structure to cathedrals, whereas art nouveau designs will be seen more elegant and won’t Include high buttresses, from being classed as modern. However, through the transition of gothic style, as flying buttresses were exposed and reduce, particularly in churches, to improve quality (gothic book ph86), especially for sacred gothic architecture so that having more structure would lead to bigger windows so more light would shine through from god, with buttresses and vaults evolving to suit this new interior of stain glass windows. (BBC – Homes – Design – Gothic . 17 September 2014.).
This can be supported through the artists for art nouveau, focusing on the Glasgow four, who combined japonism with ancient Celtic art. These four created their own interpretation of art nouveau, creating curved and elongated forms with a strong emphasis on the human form, unlike gothic architecture, Andrea palladio, who is the most influential artist of gothic design, who widely focused on structure and the use of columns that are simple and modern, which contrasts art nouveaus delicate details (The Art Story. 2018. Art Nouveau Movement, Artists and Major Works) Gothic architecture, focused more on quality and structure of the building, compared to interior, however the use of vaults became a source of decoration to create a wide webbed effect in the later versions of gothic architecture (BBC Style Guide: Gothic – Victoria and Albert Museum. 2018.).
However, the Glasgow four, especially Mackintosh, created a chair (figure 3) Mackintosh house chair, that didn’t exactly support the art nouveau style at first, as he started with the more simple and structured designs to suit their functions (The Guardian. 16 June 2014. Charles Rennie Mackintosh and art nouveau), therefore following similarities within the gothic designs, especially the Glastonbury chair as they both follow the modern and straight edges and structure, showing similarities. Also, being focused on geometric shapes such as cubes and triangles, as gothic architecture was based on symmetry and straight lines (Khan Academy. Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) Valerie Spanswick.) that created unique patterns with thin ribs and long columns.
But this then again changed to follow the typical art nouveau style as Charles Mackintosh became more focused on more feminine details that are graceful and intricate, including florals that brings light to the objects (The Guardian. 16 June 2014. Charles Rennie Mackintosh and art nouveau), suggesting the art nouveau and gothic movements were similar but different.
To conclude, ¬the two design movements of gothic design and art nouveau, after being compared and discussed, have shown to follow very similar traits and characteristics, such as their decorative and intricate details being used in churches, whilst being different in many other ways such as the message they create and their use. Gothic architecture, in a summary, has shown to be focused on stone structure, involving vaults, buttresses and high arches that can then be decorated with webbing. Whilst still following the forms of naturalism, which is what makes it similar to art nouveau, which focuses on being naturally grown and about the female form. Each artist has interpreted the movements individually, which is what makes them different, as Gaudi’s horror like structure with the bone like windows in Casa Batllo is different to Aubrey’s Peacock skirt that is feminine and curved. Overall, considering the differences, they are very different in styles and how they are interpreted, but can be combined with using similar curved lines in sacred architecture¬ that makes them similar.