Art Deco: Elegance and Geometry. A New Presentation of the Collection

Between World War I and the Nazi era, an ornamental and luxurious style developed in Europe that reflected the lifestyle and glamorous zeitgeist of the “Roaring Twenties” like no other: Art Deco. Elegance and modernity, eccentricity and enthusiasm for progress were combined to great effect.

In architecture and design, Art Deco translated the curved lines of Art Nouveau into simple, mostly geometric forms. The dynamic streamlined form and the broken zigzag line are characteristic. Aesthetic inspiration was provided by contemporary visual art, especially Constructivism, but also by past stylistic periods such as Baroque and Rococo. Many artists also looked to the art of non-European countries, adapting their vocabulary of form and color.

The Bröhan-Museum has a large, internationally recognized collection of Art Deco furniture, graphics and design objects. The current presentation of the collection, which comprises around 150 exhibits, shows the finest examples of glass, porcelain and metal art from France, Germany, Scandinavia and the Czech Republic.

Design advertising motif: Gerwin Schmidt, Munich