Naturmotiv

Naturmotiv, literally "nature motif," is a design and art term for visual subjects drawn from the natural world that are used as recurring motifs in images, patterns, and decorative objects. It encompasses flora, fauna, landscapes, weather phenomena and other natural forms, and appears in painting, sculpture, textiles, wallpaper, ceramics, jewelry, typography, architecture, and garden or landscape design.

The term is German in origin and is widely used in German-speaking art and design discourse to categorize themes in decorative arts and visual culture. Naturmotive may be represented realistically or in stylized form, with emphasis on lines, shapes and rhythm rather than exact naturalism.

Historically, naturmotive appears across periods. In Rococo and other decorative arts, floral and botanical motifs decorated fabrics, wallpapers and porcelain. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau popularized botanical forms with flowing curves. In modern design, nature-inspired motifs recur in textiles, graphic patterns and product branding, often with eco-friendly or nostalgic associations.

Common subjects include leaves, flowers, trees, birds, insects and landscapes. Motifs can be ornamental, symbolic or narrative, and may signify growth, renewal, or harmony with the natural world. They are used to create mood, convey identity, or unify a design program.

In contemporary practice, naturmotive intersects with sustainability and biophilic design, where natural imagery is chosen to evoke a connection to nature in built environments and consumer products.

See also: Botanical illustration; Decorative arts; Pattern design; Nature in art.