Art Nouveau architecture was very expensive to execute using, as it does, exquisite materials, design and craftmanship. Victor Horta’s work was particularly extravagant. Where did the money come from?
The last quarter of the nineteenth century was a period of rapid economic growth for Europe and the USA. Fossil fuels and electricity enabled many new industrial processes making a number of individuals very wealthy indeed. European colonialisation was at its peak with enormous resources being extracted from the colonies. The Belgian Congo was particularly brutal in its exploitation of both people and resources making officials involved (and King Leopold) extremely rich.The explosion of trade, industry and colonial explotation created huge wealth. The wealth was not evenly distributed and barely taxed.
Graph showing the rapid rise of Europe and the USA as a percentage of Global GDP
It is no coincidence that Victor Horta’s biggest and best clients came from the beneficiaries of this period.
Today ‘tech’ billionaires can spend their money on mega yachts and even space ships. In the late 1800’s the most effective way to show off your wealth and success was by entertaining in your extraordinary new home designed by among others, Victor Horta.
World War One changed everything. A few continued to make large sums of money exploiting the war. The costs, both monetary and human, to individuals and states were staggering. The big money had gone!
An exception was Argentina who supplied all sides during and after WW1, largely grains and meat. There was still plenty of money (for the rich elite) to spend allowing the creation of Art Nouveau architecture to continue until the 1920’s. Émigré architects from war torn Europe were happy to help.