Art nouveau Prague

At the turn of the 20th century, Prague underwent a
fundamental transformation: once again, it became
a prestigious centre for the life of the Czech nation,
developing into a metropolis with demands for modernity
that led to an extensive redevelopment of Prague’s Old
Town. Alongside new constructions designed in historical
styles, Art Nouveau began to assert itself in public
buildings, hotels, restaurants, pavilions, and apartment
blocks. The decorative Art Nouveau style, which gained
popularity also due to its French origins, was employed in
the rebuilding of the Main Railway Station as well as in
the construction of the Municipal House, a status symbol
for the Tchech majority in Prague, which was opened in
1912. At the same time, modern architecture in Prague
progressed to a new significant chapter - Cubism. The
formation of modern Prague is depicted by Petr Wittlich,
an outstanding and renowned art historian. His approach
to Art Nouveau as a style but also as a movement, making
space for the development of individual artistic creativity,
helps the reader to understand the broader context of
the transformations that Prague underwent.