The works of this period, also called modern style, were created in the time between 1890 and 1910 (“Fin de siecle“), they are characterized among other elements by decorative curves and floral ornaments. The Art nouveau answers the industrialization and its machine-made mass products by recalling the arts and craft tradition that is supposed to bring beauty and joy into people's everyday lives.
Music had been a popular motif already in early fine arts when mostly music scenes with religious reference were represented. However, already in ancient times we find secular pictures of music playing people f.e. in Egypt as symbol of courtly refined lifestyle on frescos and tomb walls. Representations of music in Rome and Greece – often as part of mystery scenes – testify the high social reputation of music. The Middle Ages brought forth many representations of music playing angels, secular representations of music can be found in manuscripts of songs respectively Minstrels' manuscripts. The genre paining of the 16th century depicts music scenes realistically, in the baroque period the first portraits of famous composers are created.