The first major exhibition in North America of works from the Biedermeier period (1815-1830), eagerly anticipated by art-lovers nationwide, has arrived in Milwaukee.

Biedermeier not only changed European society, but also did away with the overdone elegance and flourishing frills in artwork. These things were replaced by more refined class and elegance, grace and contemporary refinement.

Because of this movement, Europeans were taking control of their own cultural lifestyles in terms of simple and modern elegance. There are almost four hundred different works displayed in this exhibit including pieces of furniture, paintings, porcelain, glass, metalwork, wallpaper and fashion that helped shape this extraordinary movement.

Upon opening the glass doors to the exhibit room, my eyes immediately become connected to three distinctly detailed portraits. Odd was the fact that there were no life forms in these portraits, but merely empty rooms. Empty of human life, yes; empty of decoration and distinction, no.

One of the trends that emerged from the Biedermeier period was painting portraits of the rooms women of the household would decorate. These rooms were shown decorated elegantly, displaying a well-ordered lifestyle. Most styles were restrained but with shocking colors usually not seen on a nineteenth century wall, such as a pistachio green or dandelion yellow, yet were still tasteful in execution.

The overall character of the rooms was defined by the prized possessions of the house that were always documented in these portraits. The rooms, along with the curvaceous and vibrant furniture that inhabited them, were slightly overdone with an easy and unique sensibility.

Along with the many other subjects in this exhibit — such as fashion for women, paintings of scenery and wildflowers, dinnerware trimmed in gold and stunningly tacky wallpaper — Biedermeier’s true beauty lies in the movement’s innovations in furniture.

The artists were clearly ahead of their time in color arrangement and overall juxtaposition. Seeing the woodwork of these pieces truly makes for a “take your breath away” moment.

Merely reading about the ornate skill involved in these works — carving the back of a chair to resemble ocean waves during a hurricane, carving the legs of a loveseat to resemble tree trunks in a technique that would only now be considered easy with all the advances in technology — is astounding.

When the artists were constructing their ideas during this time period, their keen eyes and hands were their only tools with which to make masterpieces. The clarity of the lines is amazing — they almost look as though they were easy to create.

It is obvious that the true art and modernity came to life in these chairs through expression and experimentation.

The piece that caught my eye, and the eye of everyone on the Milwaukee Art Museum’s mailing list, is the emerald green “Daybed” created in Vienna in 1825. This green masterpiece is the showstopper of the exhibit. With its rectangular bed and curved lines throughout, it is no wonder the Biedermeier period is known for the curvaceous nature that all of the furniture revolves around. Around six feet in length, this daybed is almost too inviting, especially for a sleep-deprived, over-caffeinated art junkie like myself.

Here are a few things you may want to keep in mind when indulging in this once-in-a-lifetime cultural event:

The exhibit runs until Jan. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thursday when the museum stays open until 8 p.m.

Don’t forget your student ID or you will get stuck paying the $16 admission price instead of $10 (this also includes full admission to the entire museum as well).

Perfect for a rainy day, or any day for that matter, the Biedermeier exhibit is sure to amaze anyone who appreciates beautiful things.

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