#bathculture

The Significance of Art Nouveau for Private Bath Culture

The fascination with bath culture in the Art Nouveau period and the resulting artistic design of bathrooms reflect the spirit of an era that placed high value on beauty and art in daily life. By merging functionality with aesthetic enjoyment in private bathrooms, Art Nouveau demonstrated its innovative power and its desire to blur the boundaries between different areas of life. Thus, bathrooms of this time were not just places of cleansing but also spaces where residents could experience relaxation, inspiration, and a deep connection to nature and artistic creation.

In the Art Nouveau era, the bathroom was reinvented as a place that nurtures both body and spirit and is seen as an integral part of an artistically designed home. These spaces stand as testimonies to a time when the art of living and the joy of daily routine were seen in a new light, reminding us how design and aesthetics can enrich the human experience.

At More Than Skin, we see acts of self-care as a source of strength. Bathing is the most beautiful example of this.

Through the lens of self-care, bathing is more than just ‘getting clean’. Physically, bathing can soothe muscle tension, support immunity and balance your hormones. Being submerged in warm water calms the nervous system, and reduces stress and anxiety in the body. Emotionally, the healing power of water allows us to wash off any negative energy from the day. It’s a chance to escape, reflect and simply be. The ultimate moment of stillness.

Cultures around the world have long believed in the healing benefits of water, and bathing is rooted in ritual, tradition and respect for self and nature. In Japan, bathing is believed to be just as important as eating and sleeping. Japanese onsen, or hot springs, are visited frequently to cleanse body, mind and spirit. Hungary has the most natural thermal springs in the world - their spa and bathing culture dating back to ancient Roman times. In Finland, bathing practices extend to steam baths and saunas, so much so that saunas are almost equal to their population.