Art Nouveau Prague – Wittlich Petr (2026)

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Prague undergoes a fundamental transformation, once again becoming a representative centre of Czech national life and growing into a modern metropolis. This development 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. This decorative style, which also gained popularity through its French origins, shapes the reconstruction of Prague’s main railway station, while the Municipal House becomes a prominent Art Nouveau landmark and a representative building of Prague’s Czech majority, opening in early 1912. At the same time, another important chapter in modern Prague architecture emerges: Cubism. The respected art historian Petr Wittlich offers a commentary on the formation of modern Prague. By presenting Art Nouveau not only as a style but also as a movement creating space for individual artistic creativity, he leads readers towards a broader understanding of Prague’s transformation at the turn of the century.