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The Return of Art Deco and Its Origins by Issac Sultan Cohen

Jan 23

2 min read

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A century after the iconic aesthetic emerged, Art Deco, short for Arts Décoratifs, is finally making a comeback. As seen in new projects, interior spaces, and watch releases, the glitz and glam that makes us long for the Roaring 20s of the early 20th century is now giving us a small taste of the Roaring 20s revival in the 21st century.

Arts Décoratifs, is a style of art that spanned across all design disciplines, but perhaps is most strongly identified in the bold geometric forms, and richness of materials, combined with futuristic elements most prominently seen in the architecture it influenced, Chrysler Building and Empire State Building.

Emerging after World War I, the original Art Deco era embodied a spirit of creativity, freedom and innovation. With modernity and exuberance on full display, the 1920s and early ’30s became one of the most design-influential periods in history.

The aesthetic was a product of the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris, which hoped to inspire Europe through architecture post-World War I.

This glamorous lifestyle is perfectly captured in the works of one of the most famous Art Deco artists, and Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka. Her painting style was as luxurious as her models, as she mostly painted portraits of the elite of the era.  Her paintings are marked by clean, sensual lines, highly stylized forms, brilliant colors, and smooth textures, encapsulating the Roaring Twenties' elegance, style, and spirit.


Naturally, as the twenties was arguably the first real decade of the wristwatch this was a time when both men and women began to wear the wristwatch over the pocket watch coinciding with the increasingly popular Art Deco movement. Watchmakers had to conform to the trend, and began creating timepieces that could fit the mold, associated with wealth and sophistication, best illustrated by watches like the 1922 Patek Philippe Tonneau, 1920s Gruen Tank-Style, LeCoultre Reverso Classique, or the 1928 Rolex Prince.


The Art Deco movement represented modernism and elegance through designs that were sleek and sophisticated rather than extravagant. Now, a century later, art deco design is making a comeback in the world and will no doubt be seen in the watchmaking world.