The Art and Craft movement is an art and design movement that started in England in the second half of the 19th century and later spread throughout Europe and America. It emerged as a reaction to the mechanization and mass production brought by the Industrial Revolution. It is a movement that values handcrafting, natural materials, medieval and folk art. He is considered the pioneer of modernism.
Founder and Most Important Representative of the Art and Craft Movement: William Morris
The founder and most important representative of the Art and Craft movement is William Morris. In 1861, with a group of artist friends, Morris founded an interior architecture and manufacturing firm called Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Company. This company designed and handmade products such as wallpaper, fabric, furniture and books. Morris's designs were inspired by nature and decorated with geometric motifs. Morris was also a poet, writer and socialist. He argued that art should be for everyone.
Other Important Names of the Art and Craft Movement
Other important names of the Art and Craft movement include:
Charles Rennie Mackintosh: He is a Scottish architect, designer and painter. He studied at Glasgow School of Art. He is a member of the art group Glasgow Quartet. He is one of the pioneers of the Glasgow style. He was influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. He designed buildings such as Hill House and Willow Tearooms.
Henry Van De Velde's works include:
He is a Belgian architect, designer and art theorist. He is one of the pioneers of the Art Nouveau movement. He designed furniture, fabrics and ceramics decorated with organic forms. He contributed to the establishment of the Bauhaus school.
Bloemenwerf House: Van De Velde's own house and his first architectural project. He was influenced by the British Arts and Crafts movement. Its exterior is similar to William Morris's Red House building. All designs in the house, such as furniture, fabric and wallpaper, belong to Van De Velde.
AEG Turbine Factory: It is an industrial building designed by Van De Velde in Berlin. A modern appearance was achieved by using steel and glass materials. The roof of the building is inclined to accommodate the turbines inside.
Hohenhof House: It is a villa designed by Van De Velde in Hagen, Germany. It was built in Jugendstil style. The exterior of the building is covered with white plaster. Materials such as wood, marble and mosaic were used in the interiors.
Peter Behrens' works include:
He is a German architect, designer and art educator. He is considered the father of industrial design. He worked for the AEG company and made many designs for it, such as logos, typography, packaging and buildings. He is the teacher of famous architects such as Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier.
AEG Electrical Factory: It is another industrial building designed by Behrens in Berlin. The structure consists of brick walls and steel frames. There is a large AEG logo on the front of the building. The structure is considered one of the first examples of industrial design.
Mannesmann Office Building: It is an office building designed by Behrens in Düsseldorf. The building has a reinforced concrete construction system. The exterior of the building is covered with glass and metal panels. The building is one of the early examples of modern architecture.
Höchst Administration Building: It is an administration building designed by Behrens near Frankfurt. The structure consists of brick and concrete. There is a large clock tower on the front of the building. The building is one of the important examples of brick expressionism.
Joseph Maria Olbrich's works include:
is an Austrian architect and designer. He is one of the founders of the Vienna Sezession group. He is the architect of the Sezession building. He is a representative of the German Art Nouveau movement called Jugendstil. He is the founder of the Darmstadt Artist Colony.
Sezession Building: It is an exhibition building designed by Olbrich in Vienna. The building has become the symbol of the Vienna Sezession group. The exterior of the building is covered with white plaster. There is a dome decorated with golden leaves on the roof of the building. There is an inscription on the dome: "To every artist who always wants to create the art of his age."
Hochzeitsturm: It is a tower building designed by Olbrich in Darmstadt, Germany. The building is part of the Darmstadt Artist Colony. The exterior of the building consists of brick and concrete. The roof of the building is in the shape of a five-storey pyramid. For this reason, the structure is also called the "Five-Fingered Tower".
Österreichische Tabakregie Building: It is a public building designed by Olbrich in Linz, Austria. The building was used as the headquarters of the Austrian State Tobacco Administration. The building was built in the new object style. The exterior of the building is covered with white marble. There is a large pool in front of the building.
Josef Hoffmann's works include:
He is an Austrian architect and designer. He is one of the founders of the Vienna Sezession group. He is one of the founders of the art workshop Wiener Werkstätte. Cubist has a design approach based on geometric forms. He is the architect of the Palais Stoclet building.
Sanatorium Purkersdorf: It is a health center designed by Hoffmann near Vienna. The building has a square-shaped plan. The exterior of the building is covered with white plaster. Geometric forms and black and white colors were used in the interior of the building. The building is one of the pioneering works of modern architecture.
Stoclet Palace: It is a villa designed by Hoffmann in Brussels, Belgium. The building was built in Art Deco style. The exterior of the building is decorated with marble and mosaics. The interior of the building contains works by artists such as Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser and Richard Luksch. The building is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Ast House: It is an apartment building designed by Hoffmann in Vienna. The building was built in the new object style. The exterior of the building is covered with white plaster. The windows of the building are rectangular in shape. There is the logo of Wiener Werkstätte on the entrance door of the building.
Influences of the Art and Craft Movement
The Art and Craft movement brought a new breath to art and inspired subsequent movements. Knowing the pioneers of this movement is important in understanding art history.
If you want to write this blog post in more detail and length, you can also touch on the following topics:
Social and political context of the Art and Craft movement: Factors such as industrialization, urbanization, class differences and workers' movements in England have an impact on the emergence of this movement. This movement questioned both the democratization of art and the role of the artist in society. He argued that art should be for everyone, not just the rich. He thought that art should beautify daily life and make people happy. He emphasized that art has not only aesthetic but also ethical value.
Reflection of the Art and Craft movement on Turkey: This movement was effective in Turkey, especially during the Republic period. Bruno Taut, one of the founders of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Academy, the first Turkish architecture school, was influenced by the Art and Craft movement. Taut showed a respectful approach to Turkish architecture and used elements such as local materials, hand craftsmanship and folk art. Architects such as Sedad Hakkı Eldem, Emin Onat and Orhan Arda, who were Taut's students, also produced works bearing the traces of this movement.
Current reflections of the Art and Craft movement: Concepts such as handmade products, natural materials, sustainable design, local cultures and social responsibility can be counted among the current reflections of this movement. The values of this movement are still valid and important today. The contribution and meaning of art to human life has been better understood thanks to this movement.