When the 1920s roared into existence, it was a time of optimism, new innovations, and industry. The art and architecture of that era suited that widespread sense of vitality, giving us the movement we know today as Art Deco.

The name "Art Deco" first appeared in 1925 as a contraction of the French name for "Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts." Art Deco drew upon several contemporary movements like Cubism, Futurism, and Modernism. It also drew on older, pre-modern art, which was being rediscovered thanks to numerous archaeological expeditions at the time. Artists like Jean Metzinger and Andre Mare turned to a mobile vision of art, using geometric principles like the golden ratio and ancient Egyptian architecture for inspiration. Its heyday lasted from the Roaring Twenties through the 1950s.

At its purest essence, Art Deco is defined by its sense of optimism. It uses motifs like sunbursts and flight and gold trim to express the sense of wonder that permeated the 1920s. The emphasis on geometry also matched the rising tide of industry and the economic boom that followed the perils of World War I. It was a style of transition, bringing together traditional decorative crafts with modern motifs of machinery and cultural upheaval, fitting into the popularity of jazz and women's new social freedoms.

The advantage of Art Deco in architecture is that it was simple to maintain, using clean lines and bas-relief decoration. Its emphasis was on geometric forms like rectangles, polygons, and symmetrical zigzags. In fact, it was in the time of Art Deco that towering skyscrapers became more prominent, putting simple decor on massive edifices for all the world to see. The most common modern materials were applied through Art Deco, including aluminum, chrome, and plastics.

Perhaps one of the most prominent examples of Art Deco is the Chrysler Building in New York. Its crown decoration at the peak is visible for miles, providing a radiant sunburst pattern that has continued to inspire similar designs across the world. New York City is home to several enduring examples of Art Deco. The same can also be said for many of the buildings to be found along Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles or throughout the skyline of Chicago.

Other cities with numerous examples of Art Deco include Miami, Mumbai (also known as Bombay), and Napier, New Zealand.

Image by Terence Faircloth on Flickr