Émile Gallé (May 8, 1846, Nancy – September 23, 1904, Nancy) was a French artist who worked in glass, and is considered to be one of the major forces in the French Art Nouveau movement. May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Location within France Nancy (formerly known as Nanzig in German) is a city and commune, préfecture (capital) of the Meurthe-et-Moselle département, in Lorraine in north-eastern France. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 1904 is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Alfons Mucha, lithographed poster Dancel (1898). ...

Gallé was the son of a faience and furniture manufacturer and studied philosophy, botany, and drawing in his youth. He later learned glassmaking at Meisenthal and came to work at his father's factory in Nancy following the Franco-Prussian War. His early work was executed using clear glass decorated with enamel, but he soon turned to an original style featuring heavy, opaque glass carved or etched with plant motifs. His career took off after his work received praise at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. The Franco-Prussian War (July 19, 1870 – May 10, 1871) was fought between France and Prussia (backed by the North German Confederation) allied with the south German states of Baden, Bavaria and Württemberg. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... 1878 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Within a decade of another successful showing at the Paris Exhibition of 1889, Gallé had reached international fame and his style, with its emphasis on naturalism and floral motifs, was at the forefront of the emerging Art Noveau movement. He continued to incorporate experimental techniques into his work, such as metallic foils and air bubbles, and also revitalized the glass industry by establishing a workshop to mass produce his, and other artists', designs. The factory would employ 300 workers and artisans at its height, including the notable glassmaker Eugène Rosseau, and remained in operation until 1913. Gallé also branched off into furniture design, with his pieces drawing heavily from the Rococo concept of emphasizing constructive points organically and featuring inlay and carving in a floral style. 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The Rococo Basilica at Ottobeuren (Bavaria): architectural spaces flow together and swarm with life The Rococo style developed as a relief from formalities of Late Baroque interiors. ...

Gallé wrote a book on art entitled Écrits pour l'art 1884-89 ("Writings on Art 1884-89"), which was published posthumously in 1908. 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

What is less known is Gallé's social engagement. He was a convinced humanist, involved in organizing evening schools for the working class (l’Université populaire de Nancy), he was treasurer of the Nancy branch of the Ligue Française pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme and in 1898, at great risk for his business, one of the first to become actively involved in the defence of Alfred Dreyfus. He also publicly condemned the Armenian genocide, defended the Romanian Jews and as a Protestant, spoke up in defence of the Irish Catholics against Britain, supporting William O’Brien, one of the leaders of the Irish revolt (cf. ISBN 2716506205 ). Alfred Dreyfus in an army uniform, wearing a mustache. ...