A beloved child has at least two names, and Jugend – or Art Nouveau, as it is also known – was cradled as a product of its time at the end of the 19th century, becoming both a symbol of and a reaction against the effects of industrialisation on the individual and society. Influenced by both National Romanticism and the Arts and Crafts movement, this is a style in which nature and humanity are brought to the fore.

The lines are experienced as flowing and curved – in contrast to the harsh and angular principles of industry – with undulating forms that often call to mind winding grapevines. Hair is frequently stylised as swirling water, bodies as tree trunks, and other common motifs include pine cones, leaves or flowers, as well as dragonflies, butterflies, snails and spiderwebs.

In this way, nature was not only given a symbolic place in the home – it was given interpretive precedence, imbued with attributes such as power, myth, and magic. Anthropomorphic beings such as nymph-like humans and trolls in the style of John Bauer were also given space. Over time, Jugend became an art form continually exploring the ambiguity between humankind and nature – something that has once again become highly relevant in our modern era.

In this auction, we catch a glimpse of this rich flora of objects – representing a yearning for something humanity has long feared losing, and something we now more than ever seek to protect: nature.