Art nouveau - Elves' Architecture and Design - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-16-2002, 05:08 PM

Is there anybody else out there who was absolutely delighted with the art nouveau elements seen in Rivendell and Lothlorien? I admit, I'm particularly partial to art nouveau - it's my favorite design style. But trying very hard to be objective, I think it was completely perfect for the elves and their life-style. The basic elements are natural - flowers, trees, leaves etc. - yet they are formal, stylized, very graceful and elegant. And the elves themselves, especially the females (Galadriel, Arwen et al), could be straight from an early 20th century print - tall, almost boyishly slender, long rippling hair.<BR>Considering that Tolkien was in his youth at that time, I think it's very possible that he had that style in the back of his mind while describing elves and their surroundings. Art nouveau is timeless, unaging beauty - like the elves themselves.

01-16-2002, 05:08 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Art nouveau - Elves' Architecture and Design Is there anybody else out there who was absolutely delighted with the art nouveau elements seen in Rivendell and Lothlorien? I admit, I'm particularly partial to art nouveau - it's my favorite design style. But trying very hard to be objective, I think it was completely perfect for the elves and their life-style. The basic elements are natural - flowers, trees, leaves etc. - yet they are formal, stylized, very graceful and elegant. And the elves themselves, especially the females (Galadriel, Arwen et al), could be straight from an early 20th century print - tall, almost boyishly slender, long rippling hair.<BR>Considering that Tolkien was in his youth at that time, I think it's very possible that he had that style in the back of his mind while describing elves and their surroundings. Art nouveau is timeless, unaging beauty - like the elves themselves. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'