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Art Nouveau is a style that developed at the end of the 19th century and ended around World War I with the rise in popularity of Art Deco. Opulent, curvilinear forms (leaves and flowers) characterized the movement and emphasized decoration. Art Nouveau was in many ways a response to the Industrial Revolution. Some artists welcomed technological progress and embraced the aesthetic possibilities of new materials such as cast iron. Others deplored the shoddiness of mass-produced machine-made goods and aimed to elevate the decorative arts to the level of fine art by applying the hightest standards of craftsmanship and design to everyday objects. Art Nouveau designers also believed that all the arts should work in harmony to create a "total work of art," or Gesamtkunstwerk: buildings, furniture, textiles, clothes, and jewelry all conformed to the priciples of Art Nouveau. Important artists of the period include Alphonse Mucha's Les Saisons 1900 and Gustav Klimt's The Kiss.
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