{"id":698,"date":"2024-05-24T15:36:50","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T13:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/antimuseum.com\/?p=698"},"modified":"2025-09-25T07:59:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T05:59:05","slug":"art-nouveau-in-montmartre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antimuseum.com\/en\/2024\/05\/24\/art-nouveau-in-montmartre\/","title":{"rendered":"Art Nouveau in Montmartre"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Art Nouveau movement<\/a> influenced design and architecture all throughout Europe. From metro stations<\/a> to churches, to pop culture, the impact of Art Nouveau in Montmartre is ever present.<\/p>\n

Art Nouveau in Montmartre<\/h2>\n
\"Art<\/a>
Art nouveau: the entrance to the Saint Jean de Montmartre church, the sculpture depicts a serene young woman cradling a snake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saint Jean de Montmartre<\/h3>\n

Art Nouveau is ubiquitous in Paris. Opposite the Abbesses metro station in Montmartre, there is this church. It is an austere yet beautifully crafted and picturesque church named Saint Jean de Montmartre<\/em>. It was made of cement – not concrete – a special technique which prevailed until 1915. The technique was replaced with reinforced concrete\u00a0 later on, as with the Sagrada Familia<\/a>. What I liked here is the contrast between the geometrical pearl design on the porch and the typical Art Nouveau, turn of the century high-relief statue above the entrance.<\/p>\n

\"Art<\/a>
A view of the three sculptures that adorn the entrance to the Saint Jean de Montmartre church, crafted by Pierre Roche.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pictured above is another view of Saint Jean de Montmartre. The Art Nouveau church is nicknamed St Jean des briques because it is made of bricks and not stones. Bricks and cement were not the only controversial decision for building the church. In 1894, the church was actually constructed without proper authorization from officials. The parish priest,\u00a0 Father Sobbeaux<\/a> personally raised funds to build the new church, as there was only one other parish in the growing neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\"Art<\/a>
Le plafond tr\u00e8s g\u00e9om\u00e9trique de l’\u00e9glise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you look directly across the street from Saint Jean de Montmartre, you will see the entrance to the Art Nouveau inspired Abbesses metro station.<\/p>\n

The Abbesses Metro Station<\/h3>\n
\"Art<\/a>
Art nouveau in Montmartre (Abbesses)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The abbesses metro station is undoubtedly and reputedly one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings of the Paris underground train system. Its glass canopy is only one of two of those still available today. Yet, the station isn’t the original one; its entrance was taken from another location and rebuilt here in the 1970s.<\/p>\n

The station has a long standing reputation in pop culture. Most notably, it is featured in the film, Fabuleux Destin d’Am\u00e9lie Poulain<\/em><\/a> where the atmosphere plays a crucial role in the film. Additionally, the entrance is highlighted in the Howard Jones music video “What is Love”<\/a><\/em>. More recent, the station has multiple scenes in the Netflix series, Sense8. Even Louis Vuitton has taken inspiration from that station with their monogram Abbesses messenger bag.<\/p>\n