JUGENDSTIL

1896-1914

the German version
of the Art Nouveau Style

In 1896, in Munich (Germany) a cultural magazine "Die Jugend" (meaning Youth) created by Georg Hirth was actively promoting a "new style" (Stil in German) in art and many local artists were participating in this effort to fight against the tradition.

The sucess of the initiative was such that this new way of life was called "JUGENDSTIL" or "Style of the Youth"..

This new style was contemporary of the Art Nouveau style and the related styles that were explosing everywhere in Europe. With the years, JUGENDSTIL has become the usual term to designate the Art Nouveau developed in Germany in those years.

Many important companies as WMF have contributed to export and make known all over the world this style, combining the feminine figure (usually with long hair and soft dress) and more robust geometric patterns.

On the architectural side, the Jugendstil has left many wonderful buildings in Darmstadt, Dresden, Munich and Frankfurt and among the Jugendstil architects we can remeber: the Belgian Henri Clemens van de Velde, Josef Maria Olbrich and Peter Behrens.

Major works:
- the pewter candlestick by Leven
- the pewter candlestick by Josef Maria Olbrich
- the Lady with a twin dish in pewter by WMF - the Jugendstil mirror with a lady in pewter by WMF