Final answer:
The best translation for 'Art Nouveau' is 'New Art', which was an artistic movement from the late 19th to early 20th centuries characterized by decorative, flowing designs based on natural forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best translation for 'Art Nouveau' is a) New Art. Art Nouveau was an international movement that began in the late 19th century as a reaction to the academic art of the time. It presented a new decorative art style characterized by intricate linear designs and flowing curves based on natural forms. In contrast, the term 'Modern Art' is broader and typically refers to the various art styles that emerged in the late 19th and throughout the 20th century.
Although the Russian word for Art Nouveau, StilModern, and the Spanish word for Art Nouveau, Modernismo, are cognates of the English word "Modern," the term Art Nouveau itself is French and directly translates to 'New Art.' It sought to modernize design, rejecting the historical imitations of the past for a new approach. During its tenure from the 1890s to World War I, the movement influenced various forms of art, including painting, prints, architecture, glasswork, furniture, and jewelry, and was partially driven by an appreciation for traditional craftsmanship in the face of the Industrial Revolution.