Time and Beauty • Art Nouveau in the Bulgarian Cities

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Bulgarian cities is represented by the presence of a high number of Art Nuoveau (Secession style) buildings in their historical centers. This style was diffused all over Europe since the end of the XIXth century and its motifs celebrate the abundance of nature, freedom, fecundity, sensuality, involving architecture, painting, sculpture and many forms of applied arts.

The book features essays by specialists. Those that deal with architecture make up its core, others address topics that lead readers in different directions: from the period’s history and literature to multicultural aspects of art and experience, to the realm of literary invention. In it you will find also the reproduction of three architectural drawings of Bulgarian architects of the period and photos shot in Sofia, Varna, Ruse and Plovdiv.

These images, however, are meant neither as illustrations for the essays nor for a book viewed as a tourist guide. They play an independent role because their narratives, offer the readers diverse plots and shared emotions. They highlight the expressive warmth of Art Nouveau stylistics as well as the drama of their actual conditions which variate between restoration and decay.