[0] Spotlight on Art Nouveau in its historical context.

At the turn of the 20th century, someone in the United States built a machine for mass-producing Art Nouveau. That anyone should have thought of doing such a thing represented an ironic reversal in an artistic style that had laid particular emphasis on creating "organic, natural forms." At the same time, though, the machine attested to the enormous popularity the ornamental style had come to enjoy by that point.

Characterized by its use of long, sinuous lines, Art Nouveau flourished throughout Europe and the United States between about 1890 and 1910. The style penetrated all corners of design, being employed even on biscuit tins and menus. As is true for many other …