This study presents Art Nouveau as a major turning point in modern European art and design. Schmutzler examines the movement's origins and evolution and considers its expression across architecture, painting, graphic art, furniture, glass, ceramics and other applied arts. Particular attention is given to the distinctive linear forms, organic motifs and ornamental structures that connected artists and designers in different countries, while figures such as Victor Horta, Hector Guimard, Antoni Gaudi, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Henry van de Velde and Aubrey Beardsley appear within the broader historical development. With 281 illustrations, including 32 colour plates, the book offers a substantial visual introduction to the international character of Art Nouveau and its position between nineteenth-century historicism and modern art. (AI-generated content description)