<ul>
<li>Emerged as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution of Europe</li>
<li>It embraces the aesthetic of the new industrial Europe</li>
<li>It features naturalistics but stylized forms that were often mixed with arcs, parabolas, and semicircles</li>
<li>Fond of natural forms that have been overlooked such as insects, weeds, and mythical fairies.</li>
</ul>

Art Nouveau

<ul>
<li>Emerged as a reaction to WWI</li>
<li>Its name was derived from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Mondernes, that was held in France</li>
<li>It utilizes chrome, steel, and inlaid wood; when dabbled with natural materials it tends to be graphic or textural like zebra skin and jagged fern leaves</li>
<li>It features bold shapes such as broad curves, zigzags, and sunbursts.</li>
</ul>

Art Deco

<div>October 16, 2008</div><div>(Updated: June 28, 2019)</div><figure><img src="https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,h_4589,w_8164,x_0,y_767/f_auto,q_auto,w_1100/v1561735295/shape/mentalfloss/19891-gettyimages-911377998.jpg" alt="iStock/Getty Images Plus/Lepusinensis" width="768" height="431"><figcaption dir="auto">ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/LEPUSINENSIS</figcaption></figure><video playsinline="" webkit-playsinline="" muted="" style="height: 100%; left: 0px; display: block; width: 100%;"></video>The Quick Trick: It all comes down to "flowery"vs. "streamlined." Art Nouveau is the decorative one. Art Deco is sleeker.The Explanation: Both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements emerged as reactions to major world events; the Industrial Revolution and World War I, respectively. While both embraced modernist elements, they're easy to distinguish if you know what to look for.<figure><img width="728" height="485" src="https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,w_728/v1561995569/shape/mentalfloss/19891-gettyimages-636664854.jpg?itok=ys9diVqU" alt="" title=""><figcaption dir="auto">An Art Nouveau Jugenstil building in the historic center of Riga, Latvia.
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/JURISKRAULIS</figcaption></figure>Art Nouveau (it means "new art," but you probably figured that out) reigned from roughly 1880 until just before World War I. Art Nouveau embraced Europe's new industrial aesthetic rather than challenging it. It features naturalistic but stylized <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/the-most-beautiful-art-nouveau-buildings-around-the-world" dir="ltr">forms</a>, often combined with more geometric shapes, particularly arcs, parabolas, and semicircles (think of the paintings of <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/537060/gustav-klimt-100-painter-photographer-dress-maker" dir="ltr">Gustav Klimt</a>, or the arches of the <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/70991/15-monumental-facts-about-eiffel-tower" dir="ltr">Eiffel Tower</a>). The movement brought in natural forms that had often been overlooked, like insects, weeds, and even mythical faeries, as evidenced by Lalique jewelry or Tiffany lamps. The black and gold robe Kate Winslet doffs in the erotic portrait session scene in <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/66669/10-unsinkable-facts-about-titanic" dir="ltr">Titanic</a> is quintessentially Art Nouveau.<figure><img width="728" height="487" src="https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,w_728/v1561995563/shape/mentalfloss/19891-gettyimages-501625808.jpg?itok=FF06G5ME" alt="" title=""><figcaption dir="auto">A stainless steel Art Deco winged sculpture on the facade of an embellished building.
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/KEVIN_LUCAS</figcaption></figure>Art Deco, on the other hand, emerged after World War I. In fact, the deprivations of the Great War years gave way to a whole new opulence and extravagance that defined the Jazz Age and the Art Deco aesthetic. The movement&nbsp;took its name from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which was held in France. The style was prevalent from the 1920s until roughly the start of World War II and is characterized by streamlined and geometric shapes. It also utilized modern materials like chrome, stainless steel, and inlaid wood. If Art Deco dabbled with natural materials, they tended to be graphic or textural, like zebra skin or jagged fern leaves. As a result, Deco featured bold shapes like sunbursts and zigzags and broad curves. In fact, if you check out the spire of the <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/27853/quick-10-chrysler-building" dir="ltr">Chrysler Building</a>, the <a href="https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/florida/articles/miamis-coolest-art-deco-hotels/" dir="ltr">hotels</a> of Miami's South Beach, or the "coffin nose" of a <a href="https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15362447/a-brief-history-of-the-cord-automobile-the-coolest-car-you-never-knew-existed/" dir="ltr">1935 Cord Model 810</a>, you'll be staring at the very definition of Deco.Of course, you don't have to go outdoors if you're looking for Deco. Furniture from the period—like the black leather and chrome <a href="https://archiminimal.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/iconic-design-objects-la-chaise-longue/" dir="ltr">chaise longue</a> by Le Corbusier or the <a href="https://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_inspiration/barcelona_chair" dir="ltr">Barcelona chair</a> by Bauhaus giant Ludwig Mies van der Rohe—is still coveted by design aficionados and can be found in finer hotel lobbies everywhere.This post was excerpted from Mental Floss's 2006 book What's the Difference?, and was updated in 2019.

The Quick Trick: It all comes down to "flowery" vs. "streamlined." Art Nouveau is the decorative one. Art Deco is sleeker.

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The Quick Trick: It all comes down to "flowery"vs. "streamlined." Art Nouveau is the decorative one. Art Deco is sleeker.

The Explanation: Both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements emerged as reactions to major world events; the Industrial Revolution and World War I, respectively. While both embraced modernist elements, they're easy to distinguish if you know what to look for.

Art Nouveau (it means "new art," but you probably figured that out) reigned from roughly 1880 until just before World War I. Art Nouveau embraced Europe's new industrial aesthetic rather than challenging it. It features naturalistic but stylized <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/the-most-beautiful-art-nouveau-buildings-around-the-world">forms </a>, often combined with more geometric shapes, particularly arcs, parabolas, and semicircles (think of the paintings of <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/537060/gustav-klimt-100-painter-photographer-dress-maker">Gustav Klimt </a>, or the arches of the <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/70991/15-monumental-facts-about-eiffel-tower">Eiffel Tower </a>). The movement brought in natural forms that had often been overlooked, like insects, weeds, and even mythical faeries, as evidenced by Lalique jewelry or Tiffany lamps. The black and gold robe Kate Winslet doffs in the erotic portrait session scene in <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/66669/10-unsinkable-facts-about-titanic">Titanic </a>is quintessentially Art Nouveau.

Art Deco, on the other hand, emerged after World War I. In fact, the deprivations of the Great War years gave way to a whole new opulence and extravagance that defined the Jazz Age and the Art Deco aesthetic. The movement took its name from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which was held in France. The style was prevalent from the 1920s until roughly the start of World War II and is characterized by streamlined and geometric shapes. It also utilized modern materials like chrome, stainless steel, and inlaid wood. If Art Deco dabbled with natural materials, they tended to be graphic or textural, like zebra skin or jagged fern leaves. As a result, Deco featured bold shapes like sunbursts and zigzags and broad curves. In fact, if you check out the spire of the <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/27853/quick-10-chrysler-building">Chrysler Building </a>, the <a dir="ltr" href="https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/florida/articles/miamis-coolest-art-deco-hotels/">hotels </a>of Miami's South Beach, or the "coffin nose" of a <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15362447/a-brief-history-of-the-cord-automobile-the-coolest-car-you-never-knew-existed/">1935 Cord Model 810 </a>, you'll be staring at the very definition of Deco.

Of course, you don't have to go outdoors if you're looking for Deco. Furniture from the period—like the black leather and chrome <a dir="ltr" href="https://archiminimal.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/iconic-design-objects-la-chaise-longue/">chaise longue </a>by Le Corbusier or the <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_inspiration/barcelona_chair">Barcelona chair </a>by Bauhaus giant Ludwig Mies van der Rohe—is still coveted by design aficionados and can be found in finer hotel lobbies everywhere.

This post was excerpted from Mental Floss's 2006 book What's the Difference?, and was updated in 2019.

What's the Difference Between Art Deco and Art Nouveau?

Art Nouveau

Art Deco

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