Plate Illustrating Standard Concrete Block Façade Walls (âMurs de Façade âStandardâ en Agglomérésâ)
October 1920
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Madame Hector Guimard
Accession Number
1956-78-1-22
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Hector Guimard, the celebrated French architect renowned for his sinuous Art Nouveau designs like the iconic Paris Métro entrances, created this plate in October 1920. Titled *Plate Illustrating Standard Concrete Façade Walls (“Murs de Façade ‘Standard’ en Aggérés”)*, it reflects a pivotal moment in Guimard's career transitioning from ornate organic forms to the practical innovations of early 20th-century modernism. Post-World War I Europe craved efficient, cost-effective building solutions, andimard's illustration promotes standardized concrete blocks—prefabricated "agglomérés"—for durable fa...