All visual arts
theory and practice are strengthened by the social, psychological, cultural,
historical and commercial factors and therefore, I must understand these
factors as I learn about the major design styles and movements that took
place over the years, including:
- Arts and Crafts Movements (1850-1914)
- Aesthetic Movement (1870-1900)
- Jugendstil / Art Nouveau (1880-1910)
- Wiener Werkstätte (1903-1932)
- German Association of Workshops Deutscher Werekbund (1907-1935)
- Constructivism (1917-1935)
- De Stijl (1917-1931)
- Bauhaus (1919-1933)
- Art Deco (1920-1939)
- International Style (1920-1980)
- Streamlining (1930-1950)
- Organic Design (1930-1960) / (1990 – to date)
- Post War Design (1945-1948)
- Pop Art Design (1958-1972)
- Radical Design (1968-1978)
- High Tech Design (1972-1985)
- Post Modernism (1978 - to date)
The British "ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT" ......
The above images show the founders of this Movement - William Morris (1834-1896) on the left, and John Ruskin (1819-1900) on the right. Their aims were to reform the designs and the society during the Victorian era. They were inspired by Medieval Art, natural motifs and colour, figuration and high pattern.
They strongly believed that industrialization had bad consequences on the society and on the environment. They were against mass production. According to them, machine-made products were of poor quality and they were too decorated. The real beauty and quality of the products were being ignored because profit and quantity had become more important during that period. They wanted to encourage hand-made products that revealed the real beauty of craftsmanship, the individuality, and the real value of the product (that cannot be appreciated when a product is manufactured by machine because the creator does not enjoy doing it). There were other architects and designers who collaborated with Morris and Ruskin because they shared the same ideas. Morris led them to fight against mass production that brought about inhuman conditions. Work was very important in the social life of the English people but the “skilled craftsman” was being transformed into “a slave” and because of this, the English society was disintegrating. Industrialization was also harming the environment since it was causing a lot of pollution in the air.
They strongly believed that industrialization had bad consequences on the society and on the environment. They were against mass production. According to them, machine-made products were of poor quality and they were too decorated. The real beauty and quality of the products were being ignored because profit and quantity had become more important during that period. They wanted to encourage hand-made products that revealed the real beauty of craftsmanship, the individuality, and the real value of the product (that cannot be appreciated when a product is manufactured by machine because the creator does not enjoy doing it). There were other architects and designers who collaborated with Morris and Ruskin because they shared the same ideas. Morris led them to fight against mass production that brought about inhuman conditions. Work was very important in the social life of the English people but the “skilled craftsman” was being transformed into “a slave” and because of this, the English society was disintegrating. Industrialization was also harming the environment since it was causing a lot of pollution in the air.
As they say, “Action speak louder than words”, and so, to set a good example, Morris put his theory into practice by establishing Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. in 1861 (changed to Morris & Co. in 1874), producing beautiful hand-made products. Morris wanted to see:
Harmony between various parts of a successful work
People weaving at Morris & Co.
The Victorian Web, (2007), Weaving at Morris & Co.'s Merton Abbey Works. [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.victorianweb.org/art/design/textiles/
[Accessed 07 October 13]
So one can say that The British Arts & Crafts Movement was not simply founded to express styles but its structure was more complicated due to its social, political and moral ideas concerning the British life during the Victorian era.
artsmia. (2007). Modernism: British Arts & Crafts . [Online Video]. 13 June. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVjcyH72Vfo#t=24.
[Accessed: 07 October 2013]
More about William Morris .....
Apart from being an educationalist, theorist, writer, lecturer, a poet and a committed socialist, Morris was also an artist, a designer (especially known for his wallpaper designs) and a craftsman. Here is an example of one of his wallpaper designs.....
William Morris. Peacock and Dragon, 1878
The Textiles Blog, (2010), William Morris. Peacock and Dragon, 1878. [ONLINE]. Available at: http://thetextileblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/william-morris-and-peacock-and-dragon.html
[Accessed 07 October 13]
The following two paintings made by a group of artists and poets,
known as the PRE-RAPHAELITES BROTHERHOOD, showing medieval escapism,
influenced Morris in his artwork.
Lady Godiva by John Collier
PRE-RAPHAELITE ART , (2013), John Collier, Lady Godiva (detail), 1914 [ONLINE]. Available at: http://fuckyeahpreraphaelites.tumblr.com/image/55579680502
[Accessed 07 October 13]
Ophelia by John Everett Millais
Marchio Alessio Nesi - Propriete
exclusive, (2013),
Ophelia – JOHN
EVERETT MILLAIS – 1852 – London. Tate Gallery.
[ONLINE]. Available
at: http://alessionesi.it/proprietexclusive/index.php/page/4/
[Accessed 07 October 13]
[Accessed 07 October 13]
Morris was also a printer, typographer and a bookbinder. In fact, he was the founder of the Kelmscott
Press which produced hand-printed books of high quality. This is an example of
his work ....
Steven Parris Ward. (2011). William Morris (part 1) . [Online Video]. 13 March. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIp5C-qToPI.
[Accessed: 07 October 2013]
Steven Parris Ward. (2011). William Morris (part 2) . [Online Video]. 13 March. Available from:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL3Zu05KVGo .
[Accessed: 07 October 2013]
Steven Parris Ward. (2011). William Morris (part 3) . [Online Video]. 13 March. Available from:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNjZX0IC1zA .
[Accessed: 07 October 2013]
Steven Parris Ward. (2011). William Morris (part 4) . [Online Video]. 13 March. Available from:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_
detailpage&v=Epm1doE5RJ0.[Accessed: 07 October 2013]
Tate. (2012). Pre-Raphaelites: Curators choice - William Morris' Bed. [Online Video]. 01 November. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn4eDQyk9-0.
[Accessed: 07 October 2013]
Other References:
Artfactory. 2013. William Morris - The Arts and Crafts Movement. [ONLINE]
[Accessed 07 October 13]
Grosvenor Rare Book Room. 2011. The Ideal Book exhibit reviewed by the Buffalo News. [ONLINE]
Available at: http://grorarebookroom.wordpress.com/tag/william-morris/.
[Accessed 07 October 13]
Book: Fiell, C.F and P.F, 1999. Design of the 20th Century. 2nd ed. Germany: Taschen
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