Art Nouveau vs Vienna Secession Graphics

Art Nouveau is the cross-discipline counterpart of Vienna Secession Graphics — the Viennese, geometric wing of Art Nouveau in graphic form.

Casa Batlló, Barcelona — Art Nouveau (Catalan Modernisme)

Art Nouveau

A short-lived but radical style of flowing, organic line — whiplash curves, plant and vine motifs, and ornament fused with structure.

  • Sinuous 'whiplash' curves and asymmetry
  • Plant, vine, and floral motifs
  • Ornament integrated with structure, not applied on top
  • Decorative ironwork and stained glass
  • Curving, sculptural facades and openings
Full Art Nouveau guide →
Gustav Klimt — poster for the 1st Vienna Secession exhibition (1898)

Vienna Secession Graphics

The graphic output of the Vienna Secession and Wiener Werkstätte, marrying gridded geometric ornament to gilded, Klimt-era pattern, custom square lettering, and the near-square journal Ver Sacrum.

  • Geometric gridded ornament and checkerboards
  • Custom geometric display lettering
  • Near-square Ver Sacrum format
  • Gilded flat decorative pattern fields
  • Generous, structured white space
Full Vienna Secession Graphics guide →

At a glance

Art NouveauVienna Secession Graphics
Era1890–19101897–1920
DisciplineArchitectureGraphic Design
RegionFrance, Belgium, Spain, AustriaAustria
FamilyArt NouveauArt Nouveau, Secession
Formal traitsorganic, curvilinear, ornamentalgeometric-ornament, custom-lettering, flat-color, gridded

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