Art Nouveau Tattoos

French for “New Art,” this western art style of the late 19th century focuses on natural subjects and structures, with heavy emphasis on flora, fauna, the female form and curved lines. Art nouveau was prominent between 1890-1910 throughout Paris after Mucha's famed lithographed poster for the play Gismonda hit the Paris streets.

Throughout Europe in the late 1800’s, artists and craftsmen in every imaginably industry started gravitating toward designs inspired by nature instead of academia. Paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and furniture started evolving from the UK to Russia.

This movement has many names in many languages, with “Art Nouveau” used commonly in French, English and Italian expressions of this ornate decorative philosophy. Each artist in each nation brings their own voice and interpretation to the style.

Innovations in printmaking during this time also allowed for lithograph posters by fine artists to go viral, in a sense. The ease of creating cheap prints gave more people access to affordable fine art for the first time.

Art Nouveau tattoos are inspired by this movement, and reflect the design culture of the era. Some tattooers even masterfully adapt entire paintings from popular Art Nouveau artists, such as Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt or Aubrey Beardsley, just to name a few.