2 Stars
Short version:
A collation of art designs during the 1920s and 30s influenced by European emigration and exhibitions as they influenced everything from fine arts to industrial design and marketing in the burgeoning American marketplace of post WWI.
Long review:
Jazz is not a unifying theme to this catalogue; yet, it is nonetheless interesting. This reads more like a transition period of Art Deco where figurative and abstract elements vie for supremacy and exotic motifs abound. The amount of jazz related items are minimal and front loaded in the catalogue for casual browsers. A few instances of Josephine Baker inspired works and graphic posters, a couple pieces of jewelry and decorative art items comprise the entirety of the Jazz Age. This is a bit deceptive considering the book title.
Instead, this begins with the European influences on American style and how they were adopted. Paris was a major influence with the Lost Generation, Cole Porter's works developed while in France--the cosmopolitan influence. At times this reads more like a socialite registry memoir with everyone's comings and goings, and on dits with the tie-in to the theme being ancillary.
Exhibitions are referenced over and over as the catalysts for much of the drive toward modernism's adoption into the American market and mindset. Museums and department stores were the unlikely pair pushing to influence Americans. Germans, excluded from the Paris World Fair due to post World War I sentiments managed a runaround by addressing the American market itself with many high profile art emigrations.
Domestic production and imported goods as well as the marketing are much more of the focus. The concept of department store windows as exhibition space, where they lured consumers and how they courted designers from the art world was intriguing. So, while I was not a fan of the layout of the essays and some of the content overlap within them it suits a coffee table. For me, the unexpected cubist inspired works were the most interesting because I lacked familiarity with them. There are some lovely photographs of decorative arts, furnishings as well as the glitzy jewelry that we all love to see sparkle, and what could be more impressive than those from the Roaring 20s. Seriously, there are some lovely carved emerald and ruby pieces that are rather extraordinary.
If this book was titled correctly I'd probably be more forgiving. As it is, I felt like I was tricked. I got something but not what I thought I was getting.
A collation of art designs during the 1920s and 30s influenced by European emigration and exhibitions as they influenced everything from fine arts to industrial design and marketing in the burgeoning American marketplace of post WWI.
Long review:
Jazz is not a unifying theme to this catalogue; yet, it is nonetheless interesting. This reads more like a transition period of Art Deco where figurative and abstract elements vie for supremacy and exotic motifs abound. The amount of jazz related items are minimal and front loaded in the catalogue for casual browsers. A few instances of Josephine Baker inspired works and graphic posters, a couple pieces of jewelry and decorative art items comprise the entirety of the Jazz Age. This is a bit deceptive considering the book title.
Instead, this begins with the European influences on American style and how they were adopted. Paris was a major influence with the Lost Generation, Cole Porter's works developed while in France--the cosmopolitan influence. At times this reads more like a socialite registry memoir with everyone's comings and goings, and on dits with the tie-in to the theme being ancillary.
Exhibitions are referenced over and over as the catalysts for much of the drive toward modernism's adoption into the American market and mindset. Museums and department stores were the unlikely pair pushing to influence Americans. Germans, excluded from the Paris World Fair due to post World War I sentiments managed a runaround by addressing the American market itself with many high profile art emigrations.
Domestic production and imported goods as well as the marketing are much more of the focus. The concept of department store windows as exhibition space, where they lured consumers and how they courted designers from the art world was intriguing. So, while I was not a fan of the layout of the essays and some of the content overlap within them it suits a coffee table. For me, the unexpected cubist inspired works were the most interesting because I lacked familiarity with them. There are some lovely photographs of decorative arts, furnishings as well as the glitzy jewelry that we all love to see sparkle, and what could be more impressive than those from the Roaring 20s. Seriously, there are some lovely carved emerald and ruby pieces that are rather extraordinary.
If this book was titled correctly I'd probably be more forgiving. As it is, I felt like I was tricked. I got something but not what I thought I was getting.
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