Art Deco of the 20s and 30s

by Bevis Hillier

This is the first book in English to explore the origins and scope of the extraordinary style which became dominant in Europe and America in the 1920s and 30s – the style of Odeon architecture of liner and hotel interiors, of suburbia and its mass-produced arts. Bevis Hillier defines Art Deco (which takes its name from the great exhibition of ‘Arts Décoratifs’ at Paris in 1925), and shows how it grew out of Art Nouveau and became its antithesis. He describes how cubism, the Russian Ballet, ancient Egyptian art, the Bauhaus and the design of Aztec temples all contributed to its development. There are vivid word-pictures of the cocktail-party ‘20s and the Fascist ‘30s, supported by contemporary quotations. The way in which the moods of the two decades affected the arts is illustrated both in the text and in the 120 pictures. The book covers silver, jewelry, ceramics, glass, textiles, metalwork, architecture and the other disciplines which Art Deco revolutionized. Finally, the Art Deco revival of the latter 20th century is reviewed, from Bonnie and Clyde to kipper ties. And Art Deco, which had been derided or ignored for a whole generation, is claimed as the basis of modern design, from interior decoration to the skyscraper principle and the idea of ‘pop-out capsule’ rooms. Its powerful influence on painters like Peter Blake and Roy Lichtenstein is also discussed. This book is neither an apologia nor an indictment; it is an impartial and scholarly analysis by an historian who was young enough to view the period objectively, not having lived through it. Bevis Hillier read modern history at Magdalen College, Oxford, where in 1961 he won the Gladstone Memorial Prize. In 1963 he joined the editorial staff of The Times, London, becoming Sale Room Correspondent. After a brief spell working at the British Museum, he became Antiques Correspondent of The Times. In 1967 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

168 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1968

About the author

Bevis Hillier was educated at Magdelan College, Oxford. He has edited The Connoisseur and The Times Saturday Review and is now Associate Editor of the Los Angeles Times colour magazine. He is the author of over 20 books, mainly on art and design.

Reviews

[Chloe Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to Art Deco written in the 1960s, when the term was still somewhat new. I enjoyed the summary of movements that contributed to Art Deco Design as well as the attention given to sociopolitical context. Understanding the effect of world war and economic recession really clarifies the style’s shift in the 1930s.

Finally, Hiller acknowledges and elucidates the movement’s contradictions, which I found particularly insightful. I’ve always struggled to reconcile mass reproduction with the luxurious aspects of Art Deco, and Hiller makes sense of this tension.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good primer on Art Deco and how it differed from earlier styles.

[Owen Hatherley · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun and very late 60s/early 70s account of applied art in the 20s/30s

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book that defined the term, "Art Deco." It gives some good groundwork for understanding the context and development of the style through many mediums. But it is a bit short and feels superficial the further along it goes.