RAOUL LACHENAL (KEY DESIGNER)

         Again, like Grassett, Raoul Lachenal was no pioneer in any of his artistic crafts, however, his influences and talent in decoration ended up becoming an iconic staple of the Art Deco Movement. The research I carried out on him follows;

CURVY LINES - LOTUS CHARGER

RAOUL LACHENAL - LOTUS CHARGER

• Born in 1885
• Worked in his father's studio until 1911.
• Established a new workshop at Boulogne-sur-Seine.
• Focused on the art of ceramics - organically formed influences.
• Exhibited his extravagant stoneware at the Paris salons in 1904.
• He Adopted geometrical designs on stoneware and filling sections with contrasting slips.
• Developed a precise talent for decoration.
• Helped found the Decorative Arts Society.

      That concludes the majority of the research for the Art Deco essay that I carried out. From this research, I could develop an essay that discussed its history, its designers, its journey, its influences, its identity and finally, its modern existence. All that remained was to cut this first draft down and polish it up.

NEXT POST: ART DECO ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT)

EUGENE GRASSET RESEARCH (KEY DESIGNER)

        The second key designer that helped found the Decorative Arts Society. Eugene Grasset was no pioneer in any of his trade, but with his extensive cultural influences, he provided the flavour Art Deco needed.  

Eugene Grasset (1841)

• Born may 25th 1841.
• French speaking Switzerland city named “Lausanne”.
• Studying architecture at a school in Zurich.
• Active in all areas of applied art, including furniture design, book illustrations, and posters.
• Designed the façade of the Hôtel Dumas, the Saint Etienne mosaics and the Orléan's Cathedrals glass.
• Compared to reformers such as Walter Crane.
• Was an invaluable tool to the Decorative Artists Society - a bible of cultural knowledge.

    
      Grasset gave Art Deco the integrity it has today - its timeless stereotype. Again, all that is needed is to fill in the blanks and finally, research the last key designer of the trio - Raoul Lachenal.

NEXT POST: RAOUL LACHENAL (KEY DESIGNER)

HECTOR GUIMARD RESEARCH (KEY DESIGNER)

       The first and most important key design in Art Deco's journey was Hector Guimard. The leader of the design so to speak. He prompted the most crucial milestone in Art Deco's journey - the Decorative Arts Society. A brief overview I have developed from research is below.

Hector Guimard (1867)

• Born in 1867
• An important French architect and designer
• Influenced by a Belgian designer and architect Victor Horta
• Most famous work is the Paris Metro entrances
• Worked with iron, steel and color in architecture left an influential ripple    
• Founded the Decorative Arts Society  

       
      All I need is examples of his work whilst connecting all the dots in his life. Only by doing this will I be able to understand this reason for founding the society and to compare and contract him with the other key designers - Eugene Grasset and Raoul Lachenal.

NEXT POST: EUGENE GRASSET RESEARCH (KEY DESIGNER)

THE DECORATIVE ARTS SOCIETY RESEARCH (KEY SOCIETY)

        Considering the majority of Art Deco's journey has the key designers to thank, it seems only sensible that the catalyst for its development, the Decorative Art Society (founded by the key designers), be detailed in the final essay. Below is a vague overview of its journey and influence.

• Founded by Hector Guimard 
• Founded following the Universal Exposition of 1990
• Made up of Hector Gumard, Eugene Grasset and Raoul Lachenal
• Society inspired by Art Nouveau, Cubism and Modernism
• Demonstrate internationally, the evolution of French decorative arts
• The society took Art Deco to its apex until it died out  between the two great wars

         Although this overview gives me a general understanding of its journey from beginning to end, there are some missing pieces. I need a detailed understanding. Who where these designers? What was their influence on the Society? Why specifically did the society die out? These are the questions I need to answer through research. These are the answers that will be present in the final essay.

NEXT POST: HECTOR GUIMARD RESEARCH (KEY DESIGNER)