ART NOUVEAU & CLAUDE DEBUSSY
The influence of a visual artstyle on music after 1890
J.J. van der Burg (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
S. Tanovic – Mentor
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Abstract
This thesis examines to what extent the principles of Art Nouveau can be found in the music of Claude Debussy after 1890, and whether this visual art style influenced music from that period. Art Nouveau is commonly understood as strictly a visual art style and is not often connected to other artistic disciplines of that time period. Claude Debussy is a composer often associated with Symbolism and Impressionism, known for his music in the same time period as the Art Nouveau movement.
By analysing existing literature on the key characteristics of both Art Nouveau and Claude Debussy’s musical language, a basis for comparison is established. This comparison is then supported by a case study of two of Debussy’s works, alongside an analysis of two letters clarifying his views on musical composition.
The study identifies three key similarities: a blurred distinction between structure and decoration, a preference for organic forms, and an emphasis on atmosphere and suggestion. In the end, no evidence is found that indicates a direct influence of Art Nouveau on Claude Debussy. However, the shared principles do suggest a similar cultural environment and show how interconnected the arts of the fin-de-siècle period truly were.