Russia/Soviet Union: Advertising poster for the Leningrad Festival of Arts, June 1-10, 1935. Nikolay Zhukov,1935

Art Deco is an influential visual arts design style that first appeared in France after World War I and began flourishing internationally in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s before its popularity waned after World War II. It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. The style is often characterized by rich colours, bold geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation. Deco emerged from the interwar period when rapid industrialisation was transforming culture. One of its major attributes is an embrace of technology. This distinguishes Deco from the organic motifs favoured by its predecessor Art Nouveau. During its heyday, Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, exuberance and faith in social and technological progress.