This album contains mainly art nouveau-style cards showing designs based on Egyptian tomb paintings.
In the early 19th century in Europe and America there was a rediscovery of interest in Egyptian civilisation, and this lasted right through until the 1900s. It even has a name, the Egyptian Revival period, which offered exotic alternatives to the rather tired, traditional styles previously in vogue. A further impetus to its momentum came after the American Civil War from around 1870 when Americans became more interested in other cultures, and from the Far East where Japan finally opened its doors to involvement with the rest of the world.
The greatest impact of the Egyptian influence in Europe and America was felt in the design of buildings, architectural features and furniture, but increasingly this extended to the smaller decorative arts such as painting, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery and, for the ordinary person, postcards, where little money was needed to own or send to others amazingly colourful and pleasing designs. [Text courtesy of John Claydon’s blog on Reflections of a Bygone Age]
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