What historical nature-themed movements prioritized wrought iron as a primary medium?
Wrought iron played a pivotal role in several historical nature-themed artistic movements, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Arts and Crafts movement, led by figures like William Morris, emphasized handcrafted wrought ironwork featuring organic motifs such as vines, leaves, and flowers. Similarly, Art Nouveau embraced wrought iron for its malleability, creating flowing, asymmetrical designs inspired by natural forms—evident in Hector Guimard's Paris Metro entrances and the works of Louis Majorelle. These movements rejected industrialization's mass production, instead valuing wrought iron's durability and artistic potential to harmonize human craftsmanship with nature's beauty.
