Art nouveau posters from the late 19th century are currently on display in the exhibit “The Art of Advertisement” at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond.
The late 19th century design style emphasized beauty in natural forms and movement and was often expressed through flowing, stylized lines and flourishing patterns, according to the exhibit description on the museum website.
Posters in the style “pushed the preconceived notions of ‘fine art’ and merged the gap between academic art and applied arts,” said the description.
Advertising everything from theatrical revues and products to newspapers and literary journals, the posters depicted new images of women as fashionable, independent people. They were mass-produced and disseminated throughout cities, said the description, laying the foundation for modern and contemporary graphics.
Admission to the exhibit is free.
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