Adobe Illustrator Travel Poster

Using Adobe Illustrator, create two (2) travel posters which feature recognizable icons and cultures of a city or country or planet. The destinations can be real or fictional. 

One poster MUST be in the Art Deco style and one must be in the Art Nouveau style.

 

A Brief History of Art Nouveau and Art Deco Styles 

As a rule of thumb, Art Nouveau is the more organic style whilst Art Deco tends to be more polished. However, they were established in different époques with different motives. See also the examples below.

 

 _{(above) Art Nouveau vase, by Daum Frères, circa 1900}

 

_{(above) Art Deco vase by Daum Nancy, ca. 1925, Antes Art 1900}

 

Emergence of 'applied arts'

For many centuries, art academies dominated the general concept of art all over Western Europe. Hierarchically speaking, painting and sculpture were therefore regarded as the “highest” forms of art, whereas design and the decorative arts were seen as “lower” forms, causing a widespread gap between the fine and applied arts.

 

 

_{(above) The "Coca-Cola bottle" a nice example of the 'applied' Art Deco style, combining beauty and functionality in an everyday design}

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, after yet another neo-classical uprising, the desire to abandon these strict historical styles and hierarchies grew larger. At the same time, the industrial revolution had caused production to become highly mechanized. This, in turn, made artists seek out a revival of good craftsmanship.

Characteristics of Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau became the label that was given to the modernist movement that erupted from this desire. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact moment or location of its establishment, because there were several similar movements taking place all over Europe at the time. But between 1890 and 1914, Art Nouveau prevailed.

The Parisian art gallery La Maison de l‘Art Nouveau, which was owned by the avant-garde art collector Siegfried Bing (1838-1905), was one of the first galleries to display and publicize about a large collection of works that were created during this movement. Hence why its name is often credited to this source.

_{(above) Art Nouveau pendant/ brooch 1890, available at Adin Fine Antique Jewellery}

Art Nouveau artists drew their inspiration from organic and geometric forms, creating elegant and flowing designs with a distinct emphasis on contours, filled in with muted tones. The hype surrounding Japanese prints at that time, especially its floral and curved patterns, formed another very important influence.

Art Nouveau designs were applied to a wide range of disciplines, from graphic arts to furniture, interior decoration, architecture and the fine arts, exemplified at its best by Gustav Klimt’s work.   

 

 

_{(above) Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, also called The Lady in Gold or The Woman in Gold by Gustav Klimmt, 1907}

 

Effect of the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900

The Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900 gave Art Nouveau a major boost. It was held to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next and displayed many technological innovations and the latest artworks. The fair visited by nearly 50 millions people was a real record!

 

 

^{(above) Overview of "The Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900"which boosted Art Nouveau}

In Germany, the style was popularised and promoted by a magazine called Jugend illustrierte Wochenschrift für Kunst und Leben, which is the reason why in Germany (and most Nordic countries) this style is also known as "Jugendstil".

In Austria, Art Nouveau was first popularized by artists of the Viennese Secession movement, which led to the name Sezessionstil.

Even in English speaking countries, different terms were used to describe this decorative style; in the United States it was referred to as the 'Tiffany Style' and in the United Kingdom people also spoke of the Glasgow Style.

Despite the large diversity across different countries and areas of design, the common denominator of Art Nouveau was a determination to push beyond the historical boundaries.

 

_{(above) Detail of the 'Art Nouveau style" façade of the Hotel Céramic, Paris}

Art Nouveau artists wanted to create a new reality, a modern world with its own vocabulary. The style is characterised by the raw force of nature, showing dynamic, whiplash curves and motifs. Nowadays, Art Nouveau is considered to have paved the way for the modernistic art and design styles of the 20th century. A great number of its monuments are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage, including the historic centre of Riga and Hotel Tassel in Belgium.

Emergence of Art Deco

Just before the First World War, Art Nouveau had already started to fade out, making way for a more modernistic aesthetic: Art Deco.

Decorative artists experienced a rise in status following the turn of the century; similarly, a rise in wealth and social as well as technological progress gave birth to the widespread luxury industry. This golden combination solidified the Art Deco movement.

 

^{(above) Art Deco sculpure 'Nude Hoop Dancer' by Andre Marcel Bouraine (Briand), c.a. 1925, by gallery 'Het Ware Huis'}

Art Deco truly embraced the influence of the industrial revolution. Art Deco designs were therefore more symmetrical and streamlined, attempting to make machine-made objects more aesthetically appealing to everybody.

The Chrysler Building designed by William of Alen’s for example can be seen as an real Art Deco icon. The use of curved forms and bold colours are very typical.  

 

_{(above) Typical example of Art Deco, 1930, The Chrysler Building, New York}

Art Deco was adopted by designers and architects around the globe and has left behind an impressive legacy in a great number of cities. Art Deco was also highly influenced by the contemporary artists of that period, especially by the abstract shapes and forms of the Cubists, notably Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

Also glass as an medium enjoyed an important status throughout the Art Deco era, it became a staple of the luxury industry. René Lalique's work is especially symbolic of this period.  

 

 

_{(above) René Lalique, Art Deco style vase 'Archers', 1921 available through Lennart Booij Fine Art and Rare Items}

Contrary to Art Nouveau, the definition of the Art Deco movement derived from a single source: the Exposition Internationales des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes that took place in 1925. In France, Art Deco was referred to as Style Moderne. Art Deco remained the decorative art style during the 20’s and 30’s and was in a sense more eclectic, as it encompassed elements from different styles.

 

 

^{(above) Art Deco sculpture 'Dancer with Thyrsus' by Pierre le Faguays, 1925} 

 

Modern art replaces Art Deco 

Unfortunately, Europe was hit by the Great Depression during the 1930's. The average wealth plummeted, leaving many Art Deco enthousiasts to no longer be able to afford its rich materials, luxury items and furniture. In terms of architecture, Art Deco also had a difficult time competing with modern architecture, as epitomised by the work of Le Corbusier and the German Bauhaus movement.

Le Corbusier was a brilliant spokesperson for modern architecture, he considered a house to be no more than "a machine to live in". He also famously declared the decorative arts to be a dying medium.

 

 

^{(above) Photo of Le Corbusier, one of the founders of modern art} 

Le Corbusier's ideas were eventually adopted by architecture schools and the aesthetics of Art Deco were slowly abandoned. After World War II the style had gone completely out of fashion, with certain areas of industrial design remaining as the only exception.

Summary:  Main difference between Art Deco and Art Nouveau 

Hopefully the difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco has now become clear to you. Aside from the aspect of timing, what sets these two design movements apart largely comes down to aesthetics. The organic and flowing forms that define Art Nouveau were a clear response to artist's desire to break free from rigid classical and hierarchical structures, whereas the bolder and streamlined designs of Art Deco reflect the glamorization of the industrial revolution.

 

A Brief History of Travel Posters:

Travel posters not only advertised travel destinations, they were used by hotels, airlines, railroads and tourism companies to graphically represent themselves to the public. Many 20th century travel posters are now considered to be works of art and range in style from Art Nouveau to Art Deco to Mid-Century Modern.

Railroads, ocean liners and air planes - the technological marvels of the early 20th century - inspired luxurious travel and gave people the freedom to explore the world which sparked the “Golden Age of Travel” lasting until the outbreak of World War II. After this period came the era of intercontinental air travel, which began after World War II and afforded travelers a more timely arrival at their destination.

One of the most important characteristic of a travel poster is that the artwork accurate and easily communicates the destination either by displaying famous or unique landscape, buildings, people, and or culture. Bear this in mind as you choose your city, country, or planet.

From the 1880s until the First World War, western Europe and the United States witnessed the development of Art Nouveau (“New Art”). Taking inspiration from the unruly aspects of the natural world, Art Nouveau influenced art and architecture especially in the applied arts, graphic work, and illustration. Sinuous lines and “whiplash” curves were derived, in part, from botanical studies and illustrations of deep-sea organisms. The unfolding of Art Nouveau’s flowing line may be understood as a metaphor for the freedom and release sought by its practitioners and admirers from the weight of artistic tradition and critical expectations. Dramatic Art Nouveau—inspired graphics became popular in the turbulent social and political milieu of the 1960s, among a new generation challenging conventional taste and ideas.

Art Deco, also called style moderne, movement in the decorative arts and architecture that originated in the 1920s and developed into a major style in western Europe and the United States during the 1930s. Its name was derived from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris in 1925, where the style was first exhibited. Art Deco design represented modernism turned into fashion. Its products included both individually crafted luxury items and mass-produced wares, but, in either case, the intention was to create a sleek and anti-traditional elegance that symbolized wealth and sophistication.

The distinguishing features of the style are simple, clean shapes, often with a “streamlined” look; ornament that is geometric or stylized from representational forms; and unusually varied, often expensive materials, which frequently include man-made substances. Though Art Deco objects were rarely mass-produced, the characteristic features of the style reflected admiration for the modernity of the machine and for the inherent design qualities of machine-made objects (e.g., relative simplicity, planarity, symmetry, and unvaried repetition of elements).

Decorative ideas came from American Indian, Egyptian, and early classical sources as well as from nature. Characteristic motifs included nude female figures, animals, foliage, and sun rays, all in conventionalized forms. Most of the outstanding Art Deco creators designed individually crafted or limited-edition items. They included the glass and jewelry designer René Lalique, fashion designer Erté; artist-jewelers Raymond Templier, and the figural sculptor Chiparus. New York City’s Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building by William Van Alen, and the Empire State Building by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon are the most monumental embodiments of Art Deco. During the 1930s the style took over South Beach in Miami, Florida, producing an area known as the Art Deco historic district.

Assignment Parameters:

1.) Create two (2) different 18"x24" travel posters for any two (2) different cities, countries, or even planets, real or imaginary, but in two different styles; i.e., one in the Art Nouveau style, and one in the Art Deco style, using different fonts and typefaces, with different color schemes, etc.

2.) Research your location and select an image or images of famous locations, icons, and cultural aspects, to as reference files.

3.) Use a different font set on each of the posters and make sure the font is in keeping with the style of your art work; i.e., Art Deco or Art Nouveau.

4.) Select your color palettes carefully. The colors do not have to be realistic, but should display knowledge of the fundamentals of color design

5.) Apply gradients to your work where appropriate as fills and on strokes Try applying gradients to your font type. See these links for detailed information on gradients and patterns:

http://durbakaesthetics.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-illustrator-gradient-tool.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/color-gradients.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_ILLUSTRATOR_1_1/learn-path:key-techniques/playlist:topic/set-header:style-artwork/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/freeform-gradients.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_ILLUSTRATOR_1_1/learn-path:key-techniques/playlist:topic/set-header:style-artwork/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com

6.) Use patterns on your images where appropriate. See these links for more information on patterns:

 https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/geometric-pattern.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_ILLUSTRATOR_1_1/learn-path:key-techniques/playlist:topic/set-header:create-and-edit-content-you-draw/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/create-pattern.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_ILLUSTRATOR_1_1/learn-path:key-techniques/playlist:topic/set-header:style-artwork/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com

Here are some examples to use as inspiration (try to discern which are Art Nouveau and which are Art Deco):