1. The Industrial Revolution
The introduction of machine technology in the late 18th and early 19th century resulted in a shift of production from the individual craftsman to the mass production of the factory. Machine production and advances in agricultural methods displaced countless workers who flocked to the cities to find work in factories. Worker homes were mostly slums and young children were pressed into 12 hour work days in deplorable conditions.
Many critics of this new industrialized society advocated for the rights of workers and the return to a connection between the individual craftsman and their work.
2.
John Ruskin
3.
PreRahaelite painting by Rossetti
2. John Ruskin
During the Victorian period Ruskin was an inflential writer and art critic. His critical support of the Pre-Raphealites gave them the crediblity they needed to be accepted. He claimed that the Pre-Raphaelites might "lay the foundation of a school of art nobler than the world has seen for 300 years."
3. The Pre-Raphelites
Toward the middle of the 19th century, a small group of young artists in England reacted against what they felt was "the frivolous art of the day": They deeply admired the simplicities of the early 15th century and wanted to bring English art back to a greater "truth to nature."
While critics and art historians worshiped Raphael as the great master of the Renaissance, these young students rebelled against what they saw as Raphael's theatricality and the Victorian hypocrisy and pomp of the academic art tradition. The friends decided to form a secret society, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, to emulate Renaissance painting before Raphael developed his grand manner. They adopted a high moral stance that embraced a sometimes unwieldy combination of symbolism and realism, religious or romantic subjects with an insistence on painting everything from direct observation.
Pre-Raphaelites Dante Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris brought the themes of eroticized medievalism (or medievalized eroticism) into the soon to emerge Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts Style Rug
Arts and Crafts Style Home
Arts and Crafts Style Pottery
4. The Arts and Crafts Movement
"The Victorian style of heavily ornamented interiors displaying many pieces of furniture, collections of small ornamental objects, and surfaces covered with fringed cloths prevailed in middle-class homes in England and America during the latter half of the 19th century. In both countries, techniques of mass production promoted the use of reproductions in many different styles. William Morris, the British poet, artist and architect rejected this opulence in favor of simplicity, good craftsmanship, and good design.
To members of the Arts & Crafts, the Industrial Revolution separated humans from their own creativity and individualism; the worker was a cog in the wheel of progress, living in an environment of shoddy machine-made goods, based more on ostentation than function. These proponents sought to reestablish the ties between beautiful work and the worker, returning to an honesty in design not to be found in mass-produced items. In both Britain and America the movement relied on the talent and creativity of the individual craftsman and attempted to create a total environment."
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William
Morris (above) and his famous wallpaper style.
Morris designed typefaces based on medieval manuscripts and used the face "Troy " (above) for many of his books.
5. William Morris and The Kelmscott Press
The most famous personality of the Arts and Crafts period was William Morris. Although born into wealth he was an advocate for the working class and was known for his socialist ideals. He was a prolific designer and producer of textiles and wallpaper. Morris was fascinated with the medieval era and wrote books set in that time period. His books were the direct inspiration for The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.
Morris started the Kelmscott press in 1890. He printed books of great ornate borders and elaborate blackletter reminiscent of 15th century incunabula. His books are considerded the masterpieces of the Arts and Crafts and inspired the book design renaissance of the private press.
6. The Doves Press
The Doves Press logo with the initials of the owners in 1900 , T. J. Cobden-Sanderson and Emery Walker
The masterpiece of the Doves Press was the Doves Bible (5 vol., 1903) (left)
After Morris closed his press (and gave his typefaces to the British Museum to store for 100 years) two of this employees started the Doves Press. Their style was much more simplified with a great emphasis on the typography.
The beautiful type face for the Doves press was unfortunately lost when it was thrown into the river Thames during dispute over the origin of the design between the partners. (Sad as the inspiration for the design was really the work of Nicholas Jenson.)
Other well known private presses of this period wereThe Golden Cockerel Press, The Riverside Press, The Ashendene Press and The Eragny Press.