The end of the 17th century brought about the beginning of an entirely new era. Although it only lasted two years, the Art Nouveau Movement has made an impact on American society from the early lithographs and psychedelic prints of the 1900s, all the way until the movies of the early 2000s. Although the movement seems quite uncommon, it has inspired a great deal of art and has even managed to find its way into the movie world as well.
Moulin Rouge! The famous 2001 film, co-written and film directed by Baz Luhrmann, was set in the Montmartre quarter of Paris, France during the turn of the century in 1899. Coincidentally, this setting also happened to be during the height of the Nouveau Movement. And although the film is covered in the movement's notable organic ornamentation and design, the setting would simply be interpreted as the movie's aesthetic and the historical movement simply overlooked.
To notice the similarities between this film and the Nouveau movement, and to realize its prevalence throughout history, some background information is needed on the subject.
The Art Nouveau movement sprang from the arts and crafts movement and incorporated inspiration from Japanese design. Because of this cultural influence, art nouveau has many ornamentation motifs of swirling lines and pattern. Along with being an international movement, the capital for art of this nature was located in Paris, France. Many of the posters created in the city were said to be a reflection of the lifestyle of cafe culture and was collected by the audience. One of the most well-known artists of this era was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a painter, and designer in the art nouveau capital. Located in the Montmartre quarter of Paris, Lautrec often frequented Paris cabarets and bordellos, developing a journalistic, illustrative style that captured the nightlife of “la belle epoque”. One such cabaret was quite renowned and still exists today. The Moulin Rouge.
However, the Moulin Rouge did not gain fame through its reputation alone. No, it was Lautrec's many artistic prints that shined a light on the establishment. His prints narrated and exposed the nightlife scene and the can-can dancers which served as the cabaret's main event. Lautrec also frequented the Moulin Rouge and became quite close with those who worked there as well.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Movie (left) to Real Life (right)
These factors played a large role in the setting of Moulin Rouge! The film first opens with a description of the Montmartre in Paris during 1899 and follows the story of a young writer who sets up shop right across from the Moulin Rouge. The film encompasses the characteristics of the Art Nouveau movement in every aspect, from the characters to the setting and art displayed around the many scenes. After the first few minutes, none other than Toulouse-Lautrec makes an appearance. However, he is portrayed as more of an actor than an artist, and in the prime of his life instead of on his last leg. Toulouse introduces the young writer to the Rouge. Of which, Lautrec is very familiar and close with it's owners, just as he was during the era. Furthermore, the color red is very prominent throughout the film. Its prominence ties into when chromolithography first existed, and red was the most inexpensive color choice, so many artists and designers chose red to be the main feature in their prints. Including Lautrec.
The interior design and architecture surrounding the film have many design elements that are again similar to the Art Nouveau style, with swirling loops, similar typeface, and an extreme amount of ornamentation as well. And, by looking closely at certain scenes in the movie, lithographs are quite prominent, including one that looks quite similar to Lautrec's work.
In the end, aside from the characters --other than Lautrec-- who were primarily based on fiction, and the Bollywood influences integrating with nouveau style. For being made in the late 1990s, the ability to capture the historical characteristics of the Art Nouveau movement is stunningly accurate. However, being unaware of this movement and its whimsical aspects may make this movie seem like a bizarre dream.
Sources:
Cushman, Emily. “Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec | MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art, 2016, www.moma.org/artists/5910.
Gassett, Luciana. “Lecture 19.” History of Graphic Design. Mar. 2019.
Gontar, Cybele. “Art Nouveau.” Metmuseum.org, Oct. 2006, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/artn/hd_artn.htm.
Luhrmann, Baz, director. Moulin Rouge!20th Century Fox, 2001.
“Moulin Rouge!” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin_Rouge!
“The History of the Moulin Rouge Cabaret.” Paris Tours, Paris City Vision, www.pariscityvision.com/en/paris-by-night/moulin-rouge/cabaret-history.
Links to Photos:
www.coisasdajuu.com.br/2015/03/moulin-rouge-amor-em-vermelho-2001.html