Modernism
Modernism
A new expressive language was developing in the second half of the XX th century nearly in the whole Europe and some parts of America, reaching its highest splendour in Spain since the last decade of this century until the beginning of the XX th.
The Modernism is characterized for being an embellishing art based in an excessive shape liberty, where curved shapes predominate, with soft and delicate waving ones, where flower and vegetable elements are also found.
This artistic movement found its artistic expression not only in architecture, but also in decorative arts; that is in sculpture, painting, printing, literature, music and other artistic spheres interested in a thought and expression renewal.
In Novelda a new society developed towards a landowner upper class with a high economic, political and social level, due to the benefits obtained in the agriculture, commerce and financial activities. As a result of this, certain families were asking for new architectural and decorative patterns. This social group wanted to be surrounded by different aesthetic forms that, at the same time, could stamp the family personal taste as a symbol of power and distinction.
Curiously, in this town we find three of the best examples of the Modernist style in the Valencian areas: The Casa-Museo Modernista (24, Mayor St.), the Centro Cultural Gómez- Tortosa (6, Mayor St.) and the Casa Mira (San Vicente St.), being the last one a private house and not open to visitors.