Art Nouveau characterized a relatively brief period: it is usually placed somewhere between 1890 and 1914, but it reached every field of art and was influenced by many smaller movements or philosophies. Art Nouveau cannot even be put between certain dates, it was rather a process going on through different countries and continents. This variety of Art Nouveau cannot be represented here, so one has to make restrictions. In my thesis I shall argue for the strong influence of Orientalism on Art Nouveau in Great Britain. Thus, I would like to introduce a brief summary of ornamentalism and Japonism, which all contributed to the appearance of Art Nouveau. This will be followed by an elaboration of the stylistic marks of Art Nouveau, illustrated by pictorial representations.