Cubist

Cubism was a genre within the Art Deco style and was a reaction to and reflection of the rapid development and increasing complexity of manufacture, technology and business. Its occasional opulence originated from a desire to make up for the deprivations of war: typical Art Deco elements are lightning flashes, zigzag patterns and geometric forms. Its designs depict the iconography and materials of the Modern Age: automobiles, aircraft, ocean travel, skyscrapers; the use of chrome, steel, glass, aluminium and varnished wood. The Empire State Building is a prime example of large-scale Art Deco with furnishings made from exotic woods, ivory and parchment, while snake and sharkskin were used by the most famous designers of the age.