Jugendstil 1896 - German Art Nouveau Illustrations Vol. 1

Jugendstil 1896 - German Art Nouveau Illustrations Vol. 1 / with text by Thomas Negovan / 80-page paperback, 6 x 9 inches, color printing, published by Century Guild

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Jugendstil 1896 features a selection of artworks from the first year of the magazine Jugend - the namesake of the jugendstil movement. Over seventy rare and fantastic illustrations, as well as German Art Nouveau vignettes and framing elements, are included in this volume. These works are often mystical in nature, sometimes whimsical, other times eccentric– but always beautiful and fascinating.

To ensure maximum clarity and detail, all of the images in this book are captured directly from original books and magazines in the Century Guild collection using high-resolution photography and professional grade scans.The illustrations are supported with narrative about the period, as well as information about the artists and images; in many cases, we've been able to thoroughly research and identify artists often not attributed and identify historical background that had been previously unpublished.

About Jugendstil

Jugendstil (pronounced "YOU-gihnd-steal") is the term that was used in Germany at the end of the 19th century to describe the innovative and exciting design style known in France and America as Art Nouveau.

Jugendstil, or, "youth-style," was coined from the title of a popular magazine in Germany, Jugend, which published works from young artists who combined nature and fantasy, breaking tradition to create one of the most beautiful andlasting illustration styles of any century.

Each country had their own subtle variation on the Art Nouveau style, and the German version married mythologically-themed folk art and frenzied whiplashes of linework to make a previously unseen approach that is best described as psychedelic.

In late 19th century Germany, the cultural relationship to Nature was deeply connected to folklore and mythology, to magic and to imagination, its tendrils reaching more deeply into the earth than many other styles of Art Nouveau. To the untrained eye, these works might appear to simply be Art Nouveau, but through this series you'll understand how unique and powerful the artists were who worked in the jugendstil movement.