The Wicked Art Nouveau Illustrations of Mr. Wilke

“Art Nouveau – but make it spooky.” That’s Karl Alexander Wilke (1879-1954) in a nutshell. When first we found the Austrian-German illustrator, who carved out his own delightfully eerie corner of Art Nouveau artworks through clever magazines covers and adverts, we were suitably jazzed. Quite frankly, we’re pleasantly slack jawed that some of these babies…

The Last House of Fans, Paris

There was once a secret language used by women for centuries to communicate unspoken sentiments across the room. It was the code of duchesses and ladies-in-waiting; women who made bi-weekly trips to the opera armed with an exquisite accessory that with a simple flick of her wrist, could declare her true feelings for a gentleman sat across…

Inside the Imaginarium of a Solarpunk Architect

Imagine a world in which nature is intertwined with the industrial: giant lotus flowers replace concrete skyscrapers; an urban forest forms a city constantly in shift through a tree’s life cycle. This is the imaginarium of Belgian architect Luc Schuiten. To discover his work is to fall under the spell of a colourful cosmos, where…

Here’s Someone Selling a Belle Epoque Chateau on the French Version of Craigslist

I‘ve been keeping a watchful eye on the monumental Château d’Aubiry since it first hit the market in 2011; a stunning 1500m2 Art Nouveau palace complete with Gustave Eiffel-designed greenhouses situated within a 12 acre park. I was taken aback this morning however, upon discovering that the property is now being peddled for nearly half the price on Le…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. DLII)

1. Paris Dead Ends Paris has over 600 dead end streets. Photographer Karin Borghouts began photographing the pedestrian streets of Paris in 2011. Her Paris Impasse photo book shows more than 200 dead ends, from the 1st to the 20th arrondissements. The photos offer a view of Paris that is normally not noticed. Found via…

A Brief Compendium of Art Nouveau Treasures

It’s photographs like this that stop me in my tracks when I’m browsing the internet, and I’m always saving them away in some folder that I never do anything with– until today! The time has come to unload my favourite art nouveau stunners on you. Let’s start with this flower-shop in Brussels, designed by Paul…

Stop Everything and take a Virtual Visit of Catalonia’s Crown Jewel

Imagine building a house with an unlimited budget and dying before you have the chance to move in! That’s what happened to Joaquim Navàs, the patron of Casa Navas, located in Reus, Catalonia, Spain, a design masterpiece which has remained in remarkable condition. This house on the surface might look like Art Nouveau at its…

The World Wasn’t Ready for Oscar Wilde’s Fearless Illustrator

Here at MessyNessyChic, we love digging up long lost illustrations of the past to inject some creativity into our day. From the forgotten artwork found in lost Art Nouveau and Art Deco magazines to the drawing boards of the Ballets Russes; Heath Robinson’s peculiar art of over-complicating things to Errol Le Cain’s fantasy illustrations or…

Oh, Just Your Own Miniature Art Nouveau Palace for Sale

We love to DYI like its 1899, especially when it comes to miniatures. We’ve explored a veritable SoCal palace fit for Thumbelina, and ogled the eye-watering miniatures of Queen Elizabeth II, but today, we’re diving into the delightful world of Art Nouveau miniatures for every budget, from entire pre-made mansion kits to keep you Social…

Under His Pen, Art Nouveau became delightfully Trippy

Re-discovering history’s rebellious and obscure artists is one of our favourite pastimes on the internet. When their brushtrokes indulge their inner ghoul and become mischievous à la Edward Gorey, King of American macabre, or Oscar Wilde’s fearless illustrator who shook up Victorian society. Today, let’s unroll the black carpet for Mr. Harry Clarke and revisit…