Week 1: Arts and Crafts

 Arts and Crafts:

The arts and crafts movement arose after the Victorian period that ruled the late 1800s. During this shift, many designers rejected the Victorian style and wanted to turn to a more simplistic and practical method of designing. The Victorian style was a result of the Industrial Revolution. The modern technology of this time made it easier to produce building materials, furniture, and decorations. The mass production resulted in middle- and lower-class families being able to indulge in these products when in the past people of these means were only able to afford the necessities. We can see a combination of design periods in the Victorian period which resulted in a cluttered, chaotic design style.  Although this era allowed people of all economic backgrounds to be able to purchase extra furniture and decorations, the mass production resulted in poorly manufactured materials.

Designers began to realize this way of living wasn’t ideal, in fact, a British man named William Morris, one of the founding fathers of the arts and crafts movement, said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” thus the formula for arts and crafts was created. Major characteristics of the style include handmade furniture that was usually oak, visible wood joints, medieval characteristics, simple designs, and heavy and large exposed hinges. William Morris was heavily involved with the movement to turn away from the industrial revolution, and into the Arts and Crafts. His company, Morris, Marshall, and Faulkner, designed church decorations, textiles, and furniture that all followed the arts and crafts formula. Philip Webb, who also worked for Morris’ company, had designed the famous Morris Chair. With its simple frame, the chair inspired many other designers to use the design as inspiration.

Around 1860, the arts and crafts movement spread from Great Britain to America. Gustav Stickley, an American chair designer, caught wind of the style and started to incorporate it into his work. He believed that furniture should have value and honesty in the crafting process. This will result in beautiful timeless pieces that last forever. In 1908, American designers Charles Greene and Henry Greene created the “Gamble House”, which is said to be one of the best examples of the arts and crafts style. The bungalow-like house relied heavily on wood decorations that were handmade.

Today, the style appears in many ways. Many homes have entertainment centers made out of wood that accentuates the joinery. People have adopted the “less is more” way that the arts and crafts movement relied heavily on. Fabrics and wallpapers that have designs inspired by the arts and crafts movement are used to create accent pieces or walls. This movement was pivotal to the architecture and interior design world and inspired many to design in its simplistic, honest ways.

One Step Further: Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Charles was a Scottish designer who led the arts and crafts movement in Scotland. His career began at the Glasgow School of Art which led him to John Hutchinson, a local architect who took Mackintosh on as an apprentice in 1888. After his apprenticeship, he joined the Honeyman and Keppie firm in 1904. Here he designed posters, craftwork, and furniture that was described as light, elegant, and organized.

His most famous projects include the redesign of the Glasgow School of Art, Windyhill, Hill House, and Willow Tea Rooms. The Glasgow School of Art was one of his first commissions with Honeymoon and Keppie and he dedicated a lot of his time and effort to this project. Unfortunately, Keppie was the name that was publicly featured on the project, yet Mackintosh’s talent would soon be recognized in Belgium after having work sent to the artist Francis Newberry. Soon after, his work started to be recognized throughout all of Europe which then led him to an invitation to design for the 8th Vienna Secessionist Exhibition in 1900. After this, Mackintosh began to bring in commissions for private homes and tea rooms for upper-class clients. Here clients would give him creative freedom because they believed in his style and ways of designing that followed closely to the arts and crafts formula. 

After Mackintosh burst into success, he soon found himself struggling to gain new commissions. This leads him down a path of depression and drinking that later lead to his parting with Honeymoon and Keppie. In an effort to get back on track, he moved to an art community where he would spend most of his time painting in watercolor. He still possessed his erratic characteristics which led locals into suspecting he was a German spy. Shunned by the community, he moved to London where his mental state continued to decline. While struggling mentally, doctors discovered a growth on Mackintosh’s tongue that caused him to be in the hospital for quite some time. Here he would sketch and teach other patients how to paint until he was found dead in his room in 1928.

Although Mackintosh's later years were not successful, several decades
later his work was revived, and his furniture began to be manufactured again. People of this time enjoyed his contemporary taste and looked to purchase Mackintosh’s work or other work that was closely related to his principles.

Sources:

Charles Rennie Mackintosh - The Art of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (artincontext.org)

Charles Rennie Mackintosh | Biography, Art, & Facts | Britannica

Additional Videos:

Behind Charles Rennie Mackintosh (youtube.com)

Arts and Crafts Movement (youtube.com)

The Glasgow School of Art Fire - YouTube