Modernisme (,
Catalan for "modernism"), also known as
Catalan modernism, is the historiographic denomination given to an art and literature movement. Its main form of expression was in architecture, but many other arts were involved (painting, sculpture, etc.), and especially the design and the decorative arts (cabinetmaking, carpentry, forged iron, ceramic tiles, ceramics, glass-making, silver and goldsmith work, etc.), which were particularly important, especially in their role as support to architecture. Modernisme was also a literary movement (poetry, fiction, drama). Although it was part of a general trend that emerged in
Europe around the
turn of the 20th century, in
Catalonia the style acquired its own unique personality. Its distinct name comes from its special relationship, primarily with
Catalonia and
Barcelona, which were intensifying their local characteristics for socio-ideological reasons after the revival of Catalan culture and in the context of spectacular urban and industrial development. It is equivalent to a number of other
fin de siècle art movements going by the names of
Art Nouveau in
France and
Belgium,
Jugendstil in
Germany,
Sezession in
Austria-Hungary,
Liberty style in
Italy and Modern or
Glasgow Style in
Scotland, and was active from roughly 1888 (the
First Barcelona World Fair) to 1911 (the death of
Joan Maragall, the most important
Modernista poet). The
Modernisme movement was centred in the city of
Barcelona, though it reached far beyond, and is best known for its architectural expression, especially in the work of
Antoni Gaudí, but was also significant in sculpture, poetry, theatre and painting. Notable painters include
Santiago Rusiñol,
Ramon Casas,
Isidre Nonell,
Hermen Anglada Camarasa, Joaquim Mir,
Eliseu Meifrèn, Lluïsa Vidal and Miquel Utrillo. Notable sculptors are
Josep Llimona, Eusebi Arnau and Miquel Blai.