The Arts and Crafts Movement - A Stan Klos Website
The Arts and Crafts Movement
By Neal McLaughlin
From the first chiseled marble sculpture to the first canvas painting art
has been a celebration of mans' ability to express his world through tedious
craftsmanship and vivid design.
Art was not merely a pastime or hobby, it was and continues to be the
depiction of deep emotions flowing from the soul of a highly sensitive being as
they set out to portray their surroundings.
For centuries, art had been segregated. It fell into two categories and
sub groups: Major/Minor, Fine and Applied Arts. This method of categorizing was
truly sad as it definitely deprived the art world of many opportunities for
growth and the enjoyment of art as a collective of all creations.
However, fortunate for us, there are those who strive for change. People
who recognize that without change the world would be doomed to stagnation. The
artists of the Art Nouveau movement despised the wall of separation and set out
to desegregate art once and for all. It is safe to venture that these highly
charged, intelligent artists were successful in their endeavor
Had it not been for the determined William Morris (1834-1896) the change
in views of artists and critics alike may had been longer forthcoming. For it
was his Arts and Crafts movement which spawned the Art Nouveau movement that
continued to fight against the wall of separation after the Arts and Crafts
Movement began to fade.
Following the French Revolution, individual craftsmanship and design had
begun to ebb from the art scene. Then came the Industrial Revolution which paved
the way for the mass production of "shoddy" art related items.
The idea of using machines to produce art related artifacts actually
appealed to some artisans as it made their items readily available for consumer
purchase, despite the fact that they would lack individuality and personal
design, which had been the signature of pre-Industrial Revolution art.
In 1861, English designer William Morris, founder of Morris, Marshall and
Faulkner, had decided that it was time to initiate change and to lodge protest
against what he and his peers considered the "sterility and ugliness"
of machine made products.
He and his fellow artisans, to include Charles Rennie Mackintosh
(1868-1928),
Cabinetmaker Ernest Gimson (1863-1919) and potter William De Morgan
(1839-1917), strongly believed that they needed to reaffirm the importance of
individual craftsmanship and design. Thus, in the late 19th century, William
Morris, designer, textile and stain glassmaker implemented and spearheaded the
Arts and Crafts Movement.
The Arts and Crafts Movement, although predominately an English venture
did take roots in Scotland (Mackintosh), Vienna and the United States, where it
had lead to the establishment of crafts workshops which in turn had influenced
architecture, furniture, clothing and other art related objects.
The Arts and Crafts Movement, although referring to a loosely-linked group
of artisans, craftsman, designers and architects had influenced a substantial
number of believers in the movement that it led to the creation of organizations
that would promote Arts and Crafts through exhibition societies and artists
guilds.
The earliest Arts and Crafts promoting guild on record was the Century
Guild, which had been the brainstorm of A.H. Mack. Selwyn Image and H.P. Horn.
Although instrumental in the promotion of the artisans works, the Art Workers
Guild, founded in 1884, and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society founded in
1888 were perhaps two of the most influential of artists guilds.
The Arts and Crafts Movement although positively depicted by these guilds
was not without it's critics. While The Studio magazine was a strong and
spirited supporter of the movement the Magazines of Art criticized an early
showing stating that "over all there hovers an air of galvanized
medievalism; the tendency is rather to resuscitate or imitate rather than
originate".
Regardless of this criticism, William Morris and his band of artisan
brothers continued to march forward with boldness and a firm belief that
individual craftsmanship and design is the foundation of good art. Morris's
relentless push for change would eventually be successful. As a forerunner of
the Art Nouveau Movement, the Arts and Crafts Movement would become a dominant
source of 20th Century Modernism.
Today we can see how the Arts and Crafts Movement succumbed to the
pressures of the Industrial Revolution and the mass production of the " I
need it today" syndrome. However, there are still those artisans who strive
to incorporate their individual craftsmanship and design into their artistic
productions.
Yes, it is true that we may be asked to pay a little more for their
creations, however, we can expect that the heart and soul of a true craftsman is
included in their final product.
Research Links
Founders
Of The Arts & Crafts Movement
Founders Of The Arts & Crafts
Movement 1870 - 1900. ... The Arts & Crafts Society. A Brief
Overview of the Early Arts & Crafts Movement in America. |
The
Arts & Crafts Society
... In the spirit of the societies
created during the early 20th century in response to the Arts &
Crafts Movement, this site has been created to provide an online . |
Arts
and Crafts Movement
... Discover people, places & things
unique to the Arts & Crafts Movement. Directory, Locate companies
and artisans to help you remodel your home. |
Arts
and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts Movement. The Arts and
Crafts Movement refers to the loosely-linked group of craftsmen,
artists, designers and architects |
The
Arts and Crafts Movement: Artists and their Works
Artcyclopedia Artists by Movement: The
Arts and Crafts Movement. Britain, Late 19th Century. The Arts and
Crafts Movement was a celebration |
On-Line
Arts & Crafts Movement Resource Directory
On-Line Arts & Crafts Movement
Resource Directory. Dedicated to the ... On-Line Arts & Crafts
Movement Resource Directory. Yellow Pages directory . |
San
Francisco Bay Area Arts & Crafts Movement Home Page
This site dedicated to the Arts &
Crafts Movement architecture of the San Francisco Bay Area. Featuring
photos and biographies of |
The
Arts and Crafts Movement
The Arts and Crafts Movement. The Arts
and Crafts movement initially developed in England during the latter
half of the 19th century. |
Yahoo!
Directory Art History > Arts and Crafts Movement
Yahoo! reviewed these sites and found
them related to Art History > Arts and Crafts Movement. ... Art
History > Arts and Crafts Movement. . |
Cheltenham
Art Gallery & Museum Arts & Crafts Collection
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum has a
nationally-important collection on the Arts & Crafts Movement in
Britain, which includes furniture, pottery, silver |
Morse
Museum [Arts & Crafts Movement]
... Morris was a leader of the Arts and
Crafts movement, which originated in Britain in the late 19th century
and soon spread to America.This group of reformers . |
William
Morris Society: Arts and Crafts Links
ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT LINKS. Arts and
Crafts in general Craftsman ... Library of Congress. Arts & Crafts
Movement Web Site. A new website |