The Constructor of Modernity

The son of a painter and a pianist of the École de Nancy, Jean Prouvé defined himself as a ‘constructor’. Trained as an art metalworker, he revolutionised the home by applying industrial methods to architecture and furniture. His workshop in Maxéville became the cradle of a functional, rational and utterly hard-wearing design.

The Aesthetic: The Form of Strength

The Prouvé style is inseparable from engineering. His furniture is never decorated: its beauty comes from its very structure and from an understanding of mechanical forces. He favoured straight lines and solid forms that guarantee maximum strength with a minimum of material.