What is Art Deco? Breaking Down This Iconic Style
When people hear the term "Art Deco," many might immediately think of the classic Baz Luhrmann film The Great Gatsby. With its stunningly opulent visuals, this movie brings to life the luxurious scenes of the 1920s and perfectly captures the vibrant spirit of that era. Audiences can get a true feel for the essence of Art Deco in it—and that's no coincidence, because the 1920s is exactly when this decorative style first rose to prominence. In this article, we'll dive deep into Art Deco's background and explore the enduring appeal that makes it such a timeless decorative style.
So What Exactly Is Art Deco?
Okay, so Art Deco kicked off in the 1920s and really hit its stride in the '30s, taking over everything from Paris to New York. The name comes from this huge design expo in Paris in 1925—try saying Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes three times fast. That's where Art Deco basically announced itself to the world.
After Paris, it was game on. Art Deco showed up everywhere—buildings, jewelry, fashion, movies, you name it. It wasn't just about looking pretty, though. This was modernism getting dressed up for a night out. Whether we're talking about a one-of-a-kind necklace or a mass-produced radio, Art Deco made everything look sleek and expensive. It was basically the iPhone of its time—modern, stylish, and something everyone wanted.
The Five Things That Make Art Deco Art Deco
Art Deco has this thing for machines and industry—it's all about making manufactured stuff look sexy. Here's what to look for:
1. It's All About the Shapes
First thing you'll notice? Geometry everywhere. We're not talking about your grandma's flower patterns here. Art Deco is all sharp angles and clean lines. Think triangles, chevrons, zigzags—stuff that looks like it could've been drawn with a ruler.
This whole geometric obsession came from Cubism (yeah, that Picasso stuff). The French artists were doing their thing between 1907 and 1912, and Art Deco designers were like, "Hey, that's cool, let's put that on everything."
2. Only the Good Stuff
The '20s were all about living large after World War I ended. People had money and they wanted to spend it on nice things. That's why Art Deco pieces are loaded with:
- Real gold (not that fake stuff)
- Ivory (before we knew better)
- Mother-of-pearl
- Fancy lacquer work
- Crystals that cost more than your rent
Take Louis Süe, this French designer who was basically the Gucci of his time. The guy knew how to make modern look expensive, and expensive look even more expensive.
3. Everything's Perfectly Balanced
Art Deco is obsessed with symmetry. Look at any Art Deco building—everything on the left has a twin on the right. Windows, doors, those fancy details—it's all perfectly matched up. The same goes for furniture, posters, whatever. It's like they couldn't stand anything being off-center.
This wasn't just about being neat freaks. It was about showing that humans could create perfect order, that we were in control. Pretty optimistic for folks who'd just lived through a world war, right?
4. Made by Hand (Even When It Wasn't)
Here's something cool: back in 1875, France officially said furniture makers and jewelers were "artists," not just craftsmen. Fast forward to Art Deco times, and even though factories were pumping out products, everything still had to look handmade and special.
You see this in:
- Crazy detailed metalwork on buildings
- Jewelry that must've taken forever to make
- Furniture with inlays that'll make your head spin
Even the mass-produced stuff tried to look exclusive. It's like how today's "artisanal" everything tries to seem handcrafted even when it's not.
5. A Little Bit of Everything
Art Deco might've started in the West, but it grabbed ideas from everywhere:
From Egypt:
Remember when they found King Tut's tomb in 1922? Everyone went Egypt-crazy. Suddenly you've got sphinxes on buildings and hieroglyphs on jewelry.
From Asia:
Japanese lacquer work, Chinese patterns, bamboo designs—Art Deco ate it all up and spit out something new.
This wasn't just cultural appropriation (though yeah, some of it was). It was the world getting smaller, and design reflecting that. Kind of like how we mix everything today—Korean tacos, anyone?
When Jewelry Got a Makeover
Art Deco jewelry is where things get really interesting. Out with the old flowery Art Nouveau stuff, in with the geometric bling.
Enter the Flapper
Those 1920s party girls changed everything:
- Short hair meant you could finally see their ears (hello, chandelier earrings)
- Loose dresses needed long necklaces to jazz them up
- Dancing all night meant jewelry that could keep up
The Must-Have Pieces
Every flapper worth her gin fizz had:
- Ropes of pearls (real or fake, who's checking?)
- Geometric chokers that looked like tiny skyscrapers
- Earrings that practically touched their shoulders
- Cocktail rings big enough to knock someone out
- Dress clips you could move around (versatility, baby!)
This wasn't just about looking good. It was about looking modern, independent, and ready to party. The jewelry said what the women were thinking: "We're not our mothers, and we're not apologizing for it."
Why We're Still Obsessed
Here's the thing about Art Deco—it never really went away. Sure, it had its heyday, but look around:
- That fancy hotel downtown? Art Deco inspired.
- Those geometric earrings at Target? Art Deco vibes.
- Every movie set in the '20s? Art Deco porn.
We keep coming back to it because it nailed something we're still trying to figure out: how to be modern without being cold, luxurious without being stuffy, global without losing identity.
In a world where we're all trying to find that sweet spot between tech and humanity, mass production and authenticity, Art Deco already did it. And it looked damn good doing it.
So next time you see those zigzag patterns or geometric shapes, you'll know what you're looking at. It's not just a design style—it's a whole era's attempt to make the modern world beautiful. And honestly? They pretty much nailed it.