Protomodernism

Protomodernism marks a transitional period in design history, bridging the ornate traditional styles of the 19th century with the radical simplicity of Modernism. Emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this movement sought to break away from historic revival styles, emphasizing function, geometry, and new materials. Several key movements within Protomodernism played a significant role in shaping the future of interior and furniture design, including the Vienna Secession, De Stijl, and Russian Constructivism. Additionally, architects such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered innovative approaches to space and form that continue to influence contemporary design.

Vienna Secession

An Austrian movement known as the Vienna Secession advocated for creative, contemporary aesthetics over conventional artistic conventions. Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffmann, and Otto Wagner were among the artists who founded the Secession in 1897. They placed a strong emphasis on geometric patterns, abstraction, and the fusion of fine arts with interior design and architecture. The Secession Building in Vienna, which has a spectacular gold-leaf dome, organic elements, and clean lines, is among the most famous structures from this period.

De Stijl

Theo van Doesburg and Piet Mondrian established the highly structured and abstract De Stijl style in the Netherlands in 1917. Its embrace of grid-based design, primary colors, and minimalism had a direct impact on contemporary architecture and furnishings. The Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld is a prime example; it combines strong colors and rectilinear shapes to create an eye-catching yet useful object.

Constructivism in Russia

Following the Russian Revolution, Russian Constructivism developed, focusing on mass manufacturing, efficiency, and industrial materials. By emphasizing geometric and machine-like structures, designers like El Lissitzky and Vladimir Tatlin pushed the limits of architecture and furniture. Though never constructed, the Tatlin Tower was a prime example of the movement's practical and futuristic approach to architecture.

Charles Mackintosh, Rennie

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a Scottish architect and designer, was a prominent member of the Arts & Crafts movement before shifting toward more modernist styles. Elegant geometric shapes and fine craftsmanship were hallmarks of his furniture designs, which included the high-back chairs. His most well-known architectural creation, the Glasgow School of Art, exemplifies his distinctive fusion of innovation and tradition.

Wright, Frank Lloyd

Frank Lloyd Wright made significant contributions to contemporary interior design and architecture. His "organic architecture" theory placed a strong emphasis on balancing nature with the built environment. For their time, Wright's Prairie-style homes with open floor plans and built-in furniture, as well as Fallingwater, a home that blends in perfectly with its natural surroundings, were groundbreaking. His sleek, geometric chairs and tables, which adhere to the concepts of simplicity and functionality, are examples of his influence on furniture design.

Images from Protomodernism

The Secession Building in Vienna

Gerrit Rietveld’s Red and Blue Chair

Tatlin's Tower

A high-back chair by Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Current Applications of Protomodernism

Contemporary minimalist interiors inspired by De Stijl

Modernist architecture influenced by Wright’s organic principles

Sleek, industrial-inspired designs rooted in Russian Constructivism