Praha secesní – Wittlich Petr (2017)

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Prague undergoes a fundamental transformation, becoming once again a representative centre of Czech national life and developing into a modern metropolis. This change requires extensive redevelopment of Prague’s Old Town. Alongside buildings in historicist styles, public buildings, hotels, restaurants, pavilions and residential houses begin to appear according to the principles of the new style, Art Nouveau. The main Prague railway station is rebuilt in this decorative style, which also wins sympathy through its French origins, while the Municipal House becomes a prominent Art Nouveau landmark and is opened at the beginning of 1912. At the same time, another important chapter in modern Prague architecture emerges: Cubism. Art historian Petr Wittlich comments on the formation of modern Prague, presenting Art Nouveau not only as a style but also as a movement that creates space for individual artistic creativity and encouraging readers to understand the broader context of the city’s transformation at the turn of the century.