25 Stunning Art Nouveau Decor Patterns from Cahiers de l’écolier décorateur

Beautiful Art Nouveau decor prints from Cahiers de l’écolier décorateur, now available to download free. A must-see if you love vintage floral patterns and French design.

A Hidden Art Nouveau Decor Gem

Some of the most exciting vintage finds are the ones you stumble on by accident—those quiet little treasures that feel like they’ve been waiting to be rediscovered. That’s exactly how I felt when I came across Cahiers de l’écolier décorateur. The name might sound a bit serious (it translates to The Decorative Student’s Notebook), but the contents are anything but dry. It’s a stunning example of early 20th-century French design education at its most beautiful.

Originally published in Paris, these portfolios were made for decorative arts students. But don’t let the word “student” fool you—these were high-quality, professionally produced reference materials. They were designed to train the eye, yes, but also to inspire.

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Inspiring Art Nouveau Patterns

The prints in Cahiers de l’écolier décorateur are classic Art Nouveau: stylised floral motifs, organic curves, flowing borders, and ornamental panels that feel both elegant and accessible.

What makes them special, though, is pochoir printing—a painstaking hand-stencilling technique that gives each pattern a richness and precision you don’t often see in mass-produced work. The colours are vivid, the layering is subtle, and they have a lovely handmade feel. M. Chevry, a French artist and educator, designed all the patterns.

It immediately reminded me of other Art Nouveau posts I’ve shared here. For example, Koloman Moser’s Art Nouveau patterns also used pochoir to brilliant effect—his bold lines and geometric stylisation feel quite different, but the technique links them. Likewise, Séguy’s Floreal pattern designs share that same lush, botanical style, with soft washes of colour laid over delicate outlines. You can feel the crossover in purpose, too—they’re all intended as design resources but are collectable artworks.

Why These Prints Are Still So Inspiring

There’s something endlessly appealing about Art Nouveau decor. It manages to be decorative without being fussy and natural without being naive. The prints from Cahiers de l’écolier décorateur are great examples of that balance—they’re structured but flowing, detailed but not overwhelming. I can imagine them as wrapping paper, part of a collage, framed on a wall, or even turned into fabric patterns. They’re just so adaptable.

They also sit beautifully alongside some of the other vintage image collections on the blog. For example, the Art Nouveau flower prints share the same rhythm of curling stems and repeating floral forms. And the Art Nouveau animal illustrations carry that sinuous line and stylised detail that defines the whole movement.

Start Downloading

I’ve gathered a selection of prints from Cahiers de l’écolier décorateur that you can download and use however you like. They’re perfect for anyone into vintage ephemera, collage, DIY decor, or even relaxing browsing. Whether making something with them or simply collecting for future inspiration (I do both), I think you’ll love what this little-known magazine offers.

Click on the title above the design you want, and a higher resolution image will open in a new tab where you can print or save it.

Art Nouveau Decor Patterns 1-12

1: Radish Roses

The bottom of the page reads: “The above models are not intended to be copied but are simply examples from which the student should draw inspiration to create a personal composition.“

Radish art nouveau patterns as a border and on a vase.

2: Blackcurrants & Goosberries

Blackcurrants and gooseberries are incorporated into the Art Nouveau patterns used as ornamental borders, on the back of brushes, or as embellishments on letters.

Here you’ll find some good examples of old decorative calligraphy.

3. Field Oleander

With its graceful, lance-shaped leaves and delicate clusters of blooms, field oleander (rosebay) was often used in Art Nouveau decor patterns for its natural curves and ornamental rhythm, making it a perfect fit for the movement’s flowing, botanical style.

4. Umbels

Umbels, with their elegant, radiating clusters of tiny flowers, were a popular motif in Art Nouveau design, admired for their symmetrical structure and ability to create soft, organic patterns that echoed the movement’s love of nature’s geometry.

5. Larkspur

There are some beautiful larkspur botanical illustrations in this collection of wildflower paintings.

6. Pear

7. Borage / Star Flower

8. Hawthorn

9. Jasmin

10. Iris

Here is an exquisite collection of Japanese Iris paintings.

11. Plums

12. Purple Sage

Art Nouveau Decor Patterns 13-25

13. Creeping Crown Vetch

With its soft, radiating flower clusters and delicate foliage, creeping crown vetch fits naturally into these Art Nouveau prints, echoing the movement’s love of flowing lines and botanical symmetry.

14. Orchids

The blog has a collection of Charles Antoine Lemaire’s beautiful orchids.

15. Petunias

16. Oranges

There are some stunning orange prints in the pomological collection of watercolour fruits.

17. Honeysuckle

18. Sainfoin

19. Poppies

There is a collection of vintage poppy prints on the site.

20. Orchids 2

21. Dragonfly

Here you can find a collection of vintage dragonfly drawings, as well as some dragonflies with Seguy’s Art Nouveau insects.

22. Laburnum

23. Anemones

24. Almonds

25. Bluebells

Check out these bluebell botanicals on the site.

Wrapping It Up

I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring these Art Nouveau prints from Cahiers de l’écolier décorateur. There’s something so satisfying about finding designs made to teach creativity—yet they still feel timeless, elegant, and usable today.

Whether you print them to hang on your wall, use them in a collage, or save them for inspiration, they’re a lovely way to add a bit of vintage charm to your creative world.

If this style speaks to you, don’t miss the other Art Nouveau treasures on the blog—like Séguy’s floral designs, or Martin Gerlach’s plant art. They all share that same flow and beauty.

If you’re interested in French ephemera, check out these paper dolls, many of which are from French magazines.

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