Naturally flowing lines, ingeniously curved shapes and an exuberant wealth of floral, figurative and abstract ornamentation – these are the distinguishing characteristics of Art Nouveau, the French and Belgian version of „Jugendstil“. France and Belgium played a major role in the upheaval of European art and design around 1900, which paved the way for modernism. Paris in particular exerted an enormous magnetic attraction: Architects such as Hector Guimard and Eugène Gaillard worked here; poster designers such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Alfons Mucha revolutionized graphic design.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Bröhan-Museum, this extensive exhibition is dedicated to one of the museum’s focal points – French and Belgian Art Nouveau. With great playfulness and especially floral ornamentation, the Art Nouveau artists in cities such as Brussels, Paris and Nancy created a new design for the Belle Epoque, which soon captivated the whole of Europe. With outstanding pieces from national and international private collections, the Bröhan-Museum is bringing the glory of this era back to life. Some of the items on loan are being shown to the public for the first time.

Curator: Dr. Anna Grosskopf
Exhibition design: Katleen Arthen

Advertising motif: Privat Livemont, Plakat „Absinth Robette“, 1896 (Detail), Paul und Diana Tauchner. Design: Gerwin Schmidt, 2023