The Relationship Between Champagne and Art Nouveau

Art and wine, but especially Champagne, has long been intertwined.  I think one of the greatest relationships between Champagne and art is during the La Belle Époque and Art Nouveau, which occurred starting in the late 1870’s and ending at the start of World War I.  This art was very organic and nature-inspired in shapes.

The term Art Nouveau was first coined in the 1880s in the Belgian journal L’Art Moderne to describe the work of Les Vingt, twenty painters, and sculptors seeking reform through art. The name was popularized by the “Maison de l’Art Nouveau” (“House of the New Art”), an art gallery that opened in Paris in 1895 (https://www.linearity.io/blog/art-nouveau/).

Porte Dauphine Metro (Image courtesy parisadele.com)
Porte Dauphine Metro (Image courtesy parisadele.com)

The centre of Art Nouveaux I would argue would be in Paris, with its thriving art scene.  You can still see evidence of Art Nouveaux in Paris with the entranceways to many of the subway stations, such as Porte Dauphine.  Here is a link you can visit later to see more beautiful Parisian subway stations.

I am not an art critic, but I do love art.  The information below comes from my research into the relationship between Art Nouveau and Champagne houses.  Enjoy.

Champagne houses would commission artists to create pieces to be used in advertisements. Amongst these, the artists with notable pieces include Pierre Bonnard, Walter Crane, Alphonse Mucha, and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (guide.michelin.com).

Perrier-Jouët Champagne

One of the masterpieces in which the world of art and champagne met was produced in 1902, a time period when Art Nouveau was at its peak. Combining natural patterns from floral and fauna, insects, vines and shells to create ornate curves to decorate the interior and exterior, as well as furniture, décor and accessories, Perrier-Jouët is one of the world’s oldest champagne houses situated in Épernay. Perrier-Jouët commissioned Emile Gallé, a leading French art nouveau artist and master glassmaker, to design the iconic Japanese anemone wreathed in gold for the Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque vintage, turning it into an iconic commercial work of art. Not only does the Art Nouveau movement reflect Perrier-Jouët’s philosophy of infusing the poetic beauty of nature into daily life, the white floral design is also symbolic of the unique aroma found in every Perrier-Jouët champagne.” (guide.michelin.com)

Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque
Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque

In 1962, Perrier-Jouët’s marketing director Pierre Ernst was searching for a new design for a bottle shape in which to present a soon-to-be-released vintage prestige cuvée. By chance, he stumbled on the old Galle magnum in a cupboard…

By that time, famed glassmaker Emile Galle’s works were being recognized as among the most collectible of art from the Art Nouveau period. Ernst thought the delicate spray of white anemones reflected the delicacy in the wine Perrier-Jouet would place in this bottle: an all-Chardonnay Cramant. This blend became known as Fleur de Champagne or “Cuvée Belle Epoque” to reflect the design era of the time. Today, all Fleur de Champagne bottles, the primary wine along with a Fleur de Champagne Rosé and Fleur de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, carry the hand-colored design…

Ernst found a local family-run company to enamel anemones on the special bottles, and in 1964, the first Fleur de Champagne was bottled. The first bottles were opened at Maxim’s in Paris at a 70th birthday party for American jazz legend Duke Ellington. ..”(https://www.heraldtribune.com)

I think we all immediately recognize the beautiful artwork on the Belle Époque bottles of Perrier-Jouët.

Art Nouveau Style and Alphonse Mucha

Another important aspect of the Art Nouveau Style was the return to nature, the female form, floral decoration, and the replication of sensual flowing forms in art. Objects were created with decorative curved lines, peacock feathers, and floral ornaments inspired by nature…Objects were created with decorative curved lines, peacock feathers, and floral ornaments inspired by nature…The emphasis on flowing contours had priority over color, which was commonly represented with hues such as muted greens, browns, yellows, and blues…”(https://www.linearity.io/blog/art-nouveau/)

One of the artists I would like to draw your attention to is Alphonse Mucha, who designed for various Champagne houses.

Alphonse Mucha, a Czech painter was one of the most influential figures of the Art Nouveau movement. Art Nouveau was even called  “Le Style Mucha” in Paris. With a palette of muted pastels, the artist drew beautiful women posed against botanical backdrops. He celebrated Art Nouveau aesthetics with floral lines, decorative elements, and sensual natural forms…

Alphonse Mucha and Moet & Chandon Champagne and Ruinart Champagne (Image courtesy muchafoundation.org)
Alphonse Mucha with Moet & Chandon Champagne and Ruinart Champagne posters (Image courtesy muchafoundation.org)

While living in Paris, Mucha shifted his focus from painting to magazine illustration. With the Industrial Revolution advancing, printing techniques became more refined. By the early 19th century, the streets of Paris were covered with posters. The medium gained popularity and respect and was used as a means of commercialization…

Mucha’s big break came in December 1894, when legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt, at the height of her fame, was looking for an artist to design a new poster for the play of Gismonda in which she was starring…

The incredible success of the Bernhardt posters brought Mucha commissions for advertising posters and made him a famous designer overnight. He designed posters for JOB cigarette papers, Ruinart Champagne, Lefèvre-Utile biscuits, Nestlé baby food, Idéal Chocolate, the Beers of the Meuse, Moët-Chandon Champagne, Trappestine brandy, and Waverly and Perfect bicycles...” (https://www.linearity.io/blog/art-nouveau/)

Art Nouveaux Posters and Champagne

I searched online for other Art Nouveau posters for Champagne houses and came up with these by Leonetto Cappiello, Gaston Marechaux, Alphonse Mucha, Pierre Bonnard, Maurice Realier-Dumas, and Joseph Stall.  There are not that many posters available to see online.  Hopefully, if you go to a Champagne house in France you can see many decorating the walls there.

Click on each image below for a larger resolution version.  Enjoy.

Champagne De Rochegré (1902) Leonetto Cappiello
Champagne De Rochegré (1902) Leonetto Cappiello

Champagne Delbeck (1902) Leonetto Cappiello
Champagne Delbeck (1902) Leonetto Cappiello

Champagne Edouard Besserat (1925) Gaston Marechaux
Champagne Edouard Besserat (1925) Gaston Marechaux

CHAMPAGNE JOSEPH PERRIER Joseph Stall
CHAMPAGNE JOSEPH PERRIER Joseph Stall

F. Champenois Imprimeur-Editeur, by Alphonse Mucha
F. Champenois Imprimeur-Editeur, by Alphonse Mucha

France-Champagne (1891) by Pierre Bonnard.
France-Champagne (1891) by Pierre Bonnard.

Champagne Jules Mumm (1898) Maurice Realier-Dumas
Champagne Jules Mumm (1898) Maurice Realier-Dumas
Author: mywinepal
Drink Good Wine. That is my motto and I really want to help you drink good wine. What is good wine? That can be a different thing for each people. Food also loves wine so I also cover food and wine pairings, restaurant reviews, and world travel. Enjoy life with me. MyWinePal was started by Karl Kliparchuk, WSET. I spent many years with the South World Wine Society as the President and then cellar master. I love to travel around the world, visiting wine regions and sharing my passion for food & wine with you. Come live vicariously through me, and enjoy all my recommended wines.