The Arts and Crafts Movement
William Morris, a writer, designer and artist, founded the Arts and Crafts Movement in the 1860s. While the movement was most effective and influential between 1880 and 1910, it still exists in limited circumstances today. It primarily reacted against the Industrial Revolution, i.e. the poor design and quality of goods made by the machine culture that had replaced traditional crafts and craftspeople. In the publishing sphere increased competition had led to cheaper paper, inks and bindings which resulted in poor quality, unattractive books. The Arts and Crafts' aesthetics had an influence on many areas of the decorative arts, such as embroidery, jewellery and ceramics, as well as architecture, furniture design, the fine arts and the book arts. In 1891 Morris set up the 'Kelmscott Press' to revive typography and the traditional book arts. He sought to combine the aesthetics of medieval manuscripts and the techniques of early printing in the publication of contemporary and historical English literature texts. He designed the typefaces, including one based on the 15th century work of Nicolas Jenson. The books were printed on handmade papers with specially made inks. Although the Kelmscott Press lasted for only six years it provided inspiration for the private press movement in the current era.
William Morris, a writer, designer and artist, founded the Arts and Crafts Movement in the 1860s. While the movement was most effective and influential between 1880 and 1910, it still exists in limited circumstances today. It primarily reacted against the Industrial Revolution, i.e. the poor design and quality of goods made by the machine culture that had replaced traditional crafts and craftspeople. In the publishing sphere increased competition had led to cheaper paper, inks and bindings which resulted in poor quality, unattractive books. The Arts and Crafts' aesthetics had an influence on many areas of the decorative arts, such as embroidery, jewellery and ceramics, as well as architecture, furniture design, the fine arts and the book arts. In 1891 Morris set up the 'Kelmscott Press' to revive typography and the traditional book arts. He sought to combine the aesthetics of medieval manuscripts and the techniques of early printing in the publication of contemporary and historical English literature texts. He designed the typefaces, including one based on the 15th century work of Nicolas Jenson. The books were printed on handmade papers with specially made inks. Although the Kelmscott Press lasted for only six years it provided inspiration for the private press movement in the current era.
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