Exhibition at Gemeentemuseum Den Haag focuses on Art Nouveau in the Netherlands
(Artdaily.org)

A new art for a new, improved society. That is what many artists and designers were striving for around 1900. After a century of styles that quoted the past, a new form language emerged, based on asymmetry, curved lines and organic motifs. The Netherlands played its own unique role in this artistic quest. Although Art Nouveau fizzed with a desire to innovate and with idealism, in this country it was also a search for the authentic. In this interdisciplinary exhibition, the Gemeentemuseum showcases fin de siècle decorative arts in a broad context, making the dynamics of the age (1884-1914) visible, tangible and recognisable in this age where authenticity and craftsmanship are once more highly prized. The art world’s urge to innovate around 1900 coincided with major changes in Dutch society. For the first time