Art Nouveau

A style based, literally, on the "new art" of Europe in about 1875. Flowing, nearly freeform shapes from nature were carved and painted on furniture. An elongated, slightly curved line that ends in a more abrupt, nearly whiplike second curve is its most characteristic design.

Important exponents of Art Nouveau were Scotland's Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and Antonio Gaudi of Spain. The movement was called Jugendstil in Germany and Stile Liberty in Italy.