Description
Book SynopsisBy the time of his death in 1904, critics, arts reformers, and government officials were near universal in their praise of Art Nouveau designer Emile Gallà (1846â1904), whose works they described as the essence of French design. Many even went so far as to argue that the artistâs creations could reinvigorate Franceâs fading arts industries and help restore its economic prosperity by defining a modern style to represent the nation. For fin-de-siÃcle viewers, GallÃâs works constituted powerful reflections on the idea of national belonging, modernity, and the role of the arts in political engagement. While existing scholarship has largely focused on the artistâs innovative technical processes, a close analysis of GallÃâs works brings to light the surprisingly complex ways in which his fragile creations were imbricated in the political turmoil that characterized fin-de-siÃcle France. Examining GallÃâs works inspired by Japanese art, his patriotically inflected designs for the Universal
Trade Review
"This fascinating book takes a new look at the artist, arguing his success in redefining 'Frenchness' through his ability to translate the nation into visual form that rendered it legible, all the while keeping away from nationalist rhetoric."
--EuropeNow
"Dandona has done a masterful job of identifying and interpreting archival materials, and she demonstrates consummate skill at interpreting the art works not only through documentation and historical context, but also through careful looking. ...It’s a 'must-read' for anyone interested in late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century French culture."
--Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide
Table of ContentsContents
List of figures
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Object nation: The role of the decorative arts in defining a modern style for France
Chapter One
Carved into the flesh of France: Gallé and the Franco-Prussian War
Chapter Two
Clear water: Japonisme, nature, and the formation of a national style
Chapter Three
Gallé and Dreyfus: A Republican vision
Chapter Four
One for all or all for one? Gallé and the Ecole de Nancy
Conclusion: A fragile legacy
Works cited
Index
