CEU
Biedermeier Is Back
There is a new wave of interest in the nineteenth-century decorative style.
By Belinda Lanks
Biedermeier is being rediscovered. There have been a series of museum exhibitions of the 19th century decorative style, and a contemporary textile manufacturer is releasing products based on its patterns. Biedermeier’s arrival on today’s scene raises anew questions of its origins and importance. Arguably Biedermeier’s simplicity of clear lines and geometric shapes is a precursor to Modernism, yet conversely it is also considered a neoclassical interpretation of noble Greek culture.
The emergence of Biedermeier today opens a window on design history’s central role in understanding our work as designers now and our inspirations for the future. The article “Biedermeier is Back” from the April 2007 issue of Metropolis discusses the style’s origins, current role, and influence on contemporary interior design.
To download the full transcript in PDF format, click here.
To download the Metropolis CE Participant Exercise for 0.2 credits, click here.
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