Adolf Loos suggests that “the evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornament from object of everyday use”. While the idea that ornamentation is a sign of “degeneration” is too linear, societal changes have indeed influenced the nature of design. In the photo above, we can clearly distinguish between the older architecture and the relatively modern building, and see the shift from a focus on craftsmanship to more minimalist design, illustrating the effect of industrialisation. While aesthetic desire is a constant part of humanity, how this desire is expressed is influenced by society’s situation at the time. Art Nouveau came in response to successful industrialisation, giving everyday objects an ornamental aesthetic that was pleasurable and organic, rather than factory and manmade. In contrast, Bauhaus began in the post-war need for industrial and minimalist styles that will give mass produced objects a pleasurable form.
So the nature of ornamentation reflects the nature of society, and the existence of ornamentation is more indulgent than degenerate.
Bibliography:
Loos, Adolf (1910). Ornament and Crime, 74 – 81.
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