Hector Guimard & art nouveau

[Deleted]

I had noticed this a couple of weeks ago, but today I finally had both my camera and my motivation with me to check out my discovery more fully.

The fence and the gate struck me first.

You can't live in Paris and not immediately recognize this style.

What made it all more interesting was the fact that it was a massive and brand new building. I had a possible idea, and it was quickly confirmed.

I love the fact that he was honoured more than in just the name of the place. I would very much like to see the interior to examine what Guimard touches may have been used, but I have no access to that.

At least the nearest metro station also honours him.

I hope to do so myself, but anybody else with things to add about Hector Guimard and his influence on art nouveau is encouraged to do so here.

[nycgirl]

Very pretty gates. Guimard does have a very recognizable style.

I'm no art expert, but I know he was famous for using organic shapes that resembled plants, but still had an abstract quality. You can especially see that in the fourth photo, which looks like grape vines.

It's a shame that Guimard's popularity waned and many of his buildings and other works were destroyed following his death in the 1940s. Fortunately he was "rediscovered" in the 60s and he is no longer in danger of being consigned to oblivion.

[bixaorellana]

What an excellent design. I'm curious about whether the panels are actual Guimard designs. Surely they must be. Wonder if this is the first time those particular designs were cast.

[fumobici]

I love art nouveau. The school is a little dry with what appears to be only two design motifs repeated and not too integrated into the architectural design, but the Metro stops are of course high civic art/architecture. Great pictures.

[Deleted]

I imagine that the artistic frills were kept to a minimum on the high school because maintenance can be more complicated. And of course, even though France spends a lot on culture, taxpayers are vigilant about "unnecessary" things that add to the cost.

[bixaorellana]

Really -- you find it dry? The front of the school doesn't thrill me, although maybe it's snazzier in real life. What I really like are the very plain, squared off horizontal bars & roof line teamed with the surprise of the round uprights and of course the panels -- all painted in that subtly updated green. You can glimpse some cool utilitarian touches that meld nicely in that last photo before the one of the front of the building. The fence of course is wonderful. I also like that sort of creamy orange that's not used to excess.

Look at this Guimard-designed door. Isn't it great? Frustratingly, the web page doesn't give any details on it. I'd love to know the date on it, as it seems so solidly into the art deco era.


The site did make me look up the synagogue mentioned. Here's the google images hits page on it. And this blog has some background on it.


The blog also touches on an area that Kerouac covered more fully here.

[bixaorellana]

Here's a nice little coincidence. I just found this video in the facebook feed. You may have to let it buffer completely before watching, but it's quite lovely.

[Deleted]

I decided to extend the name of this thread because so many Guimard works have been demolished, but there are plenty of art nouveau examples still around us.

Today I made a mini pilgrimage to the Céramic Hôtel near the Arc de Triomphe because it is so evocative of the Guimard style -- yet if you read about the architect, there is no mention of being a Guimard admirer or disciple.

I approached it from across the street on avenue de Wagram.

But how can one not be drawn closer to such a building to admire the details? There are actually 3 names on all of the credits for the building: the architect, the sculptor and the ceramist.

Now you know the street address!

It won the city of Paris award for "best building of 1905." I don't think that this prize exists anymore.

[Jazz]

I love Art Nouveau and enjoy this thread. Am a bit taken aback at describing any of Guimard's work as 'dry'!....if anything, people I know critcize it as too lush, too sensual, too rounded....but, dry? No.

Anyway, this site is good, paris1900.lartnouveau.com/

If you look towords the middle, bottom there are 2 links,

Hector Guimard, lartnouveau.com/artistes/guimard.htm

and, Jules Lavirotte, lartnouveau.com/artistes/lavirotte.htm

This visit I would like to see one of the most famous examples of Art Nouveau in Paris, Immeuble 29, avenue Rapp Paris 7e
Jules Lavirotte architecte
Céramiste Alexandre Bigot
1901

lartnouveau.com/artistes/lavirotte/29_avenue_rapp.htm

Beautiful.

[frenchmystiquetour]

Jazz, those links just gave me a great idea for a bike tour that I can offer in Paris!

[Deleted]

People will love it, FMT. There a tons of people attracted to specific architectural tours.

[bixaorellana]

And look -- some lucky person can own this Guimard house:
www.real-estate-in-france.com/014idfparis.htm

[frenchmystiquetour]

Just a few more bike tours and I should be able to afford it.

[ssander]

Here are some pix from Paris:
























...and here are some from Brussels:

[Note for downloaders...the filenames say Amsterdam, but that is because the bulk of that trip was in Amsterdam...these pix really are from Brussels, in which we only spent one day -- flew there because the airfare at the time was w-a-a-y cheaper than to Amsterdam.]




















This last one is the home of Victor Horta, who designed every inch, inside and outside, of this home in the art nouveau style. It's an amazing place of pilgrimage for art nouveau fans.

Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside - it has to be seen to be believed!



SS

[Deleted]

Thanks for those photos, ssander. Considering how popular the Guimard style was at the beginning of the last century, huge numbers of the buildings were later torn down when the decorative flourishes went out of fashion. People decided that they were ugly and ridiculous and wanted them out of their sight as quickly as possible.

[frenchmystiquetour]

Here are some photos of the Guimard designed house in Auvers-sur-Oise.

[bjd]

When we went to Brussels a few years ago, we did a whole walk around that neighbourhood with Horta's houses.

[ssander]

The Brussels walk we did was in Frommer's Brussels & Bruges Day by Day. It was pp. 80-83, the Western Ixelles & Saint-Gilles walk.

[ssander]

The Paris walk was in the British Auto Assn's book, Paris History & Mystery. It was pp. 126-131, walk #18, the Art Nouveau to Art Deco walk. Frommer's publishes the same book in the USA under the name 24 Great Walks in Paris...Amazon has it used for about $2.

www.amazon.com/Frommers-24-Great-Walks-Paris/dp/0470228970/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324390078&sr=8-2

Frommer's has them for many other cities as well...I assume the Brit AA has the other cities, too, in the History & Mystery series for sale in the UK.

SS

[ssander]

kerouac...

Hector Guimard even designed the street sign on rue Agar...see my photo above. My Paris pics were taken (May 2009) in the area around the Ranelagh and Jasmin Metro stations.

Since you're in Paris (and I'm stuck here in Pennsylvania), if you get a chance, you could probably take us on one of your great photo-walks and get better close-up shots than I did -- when you have some time.

My route was:

Ranelagh - start at Metro Station
Boulainvillers
la Fontaine
Gros
Agar
Leopold II
Adrien Hebrand
Mozart
Jasmin
Henri Heine
Dr. Blanche
Mallet-Stevens
l'Assumtion
Montmorency
Ranelagh - end at Metro station

SS

[Deleted]

I was on avenue Mozart at lunch today and dearly wanted to take some photos with this thread in mind -- but there were just too many people in the wrong places, so I abstained. But I will return.

[Deleted]

During my lunchtime stroll, which occurs when I am not ravenous and need to eat, I passed one of the the most famous art nouveau buildings in Paris on avenue Rapp.