“Fin De Siécle” - Art Nouveau Painting

Gouache and Ink on Watercolor Paper - 6”x18”

Inspired by the transition from the 1800s to the 1900s, I wanted to create a piece that reflects the era often referred to as "Fin de Siècle" (meaning "turn of the century"). This period was seen by many as a time of societal decline, where art, literature, and morals shifted away from religious ideals toward a more secular and self-centered direction. One of the key figures who embodied this movement was Oscar Wilde, particularly through his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. For this piece, I chose to use the popular Art Nouveau style ("New Art") that defined the time. I began with a rough sketch to map out the general composition.

Taking it to Procreate, I created a digital thumbnail and planned out the color schemes.