Unveiling the Darker Side of Art Deco
The Art Deco movement, which emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, is often associated with glamour and luxury, as seen in iconic landmarks like New York's Chrysler Building.
However, beneath its bold and glamorous facade, Art Deco's inspiration is a questionable patchwork of influences from antiquity, including Tutankhamun's tomb and Aztec temples.
Despite its glamorous reputation, Art Deco was never a single unified style, but rather a complex and multifaceted movement that evokes images of glittering skyscrapers, ornate cinemas, and lavish parties, as depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
It evokes images of glittering skyscrapers trimmed with chrome, cinemas fronted by ziggurat steps and mansion parties
Author's summary: Art Deco's glamour hides a complex history.