Reform Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement, also known as the Reform Movement was started by a group of men in England intending to put quality back into a craft that had been taken over by mass production lines.  Walter Crane, John Ruskin, and William Morris had a desire to go back to a well made, creative product that was no longer found in the underpaid industrial setting.  They sought to recognize the skill required to craft a product.  The movement did not take effect until the late 19^th century.

The design began to take form by referring back to the historical styles of Japan, Islam, and Medieval Europe.  The shapes and intricate designs were brought back to the scene as pride was reinstated into the industrial ideal.  Unfortunately, these intricate pieces were too pricey for the general public with further encouraged the processes of mass production, which we can see today in our own society.  True art is a luxury that not everyone can afford, this being a reason why so many museums exist.  Most households are unable to support the arts and rely on mass produced products.

However, the Arts and Crafts Movement in America took a different shape than Crane, Ruskin, and Morris found in England.  Gustav Stickly was able to make a semi homemade system to make art affordable to the general public. Similar to the mesh of historical art in British product, “Mission Style” combined Native American designs with that of the Spanish to produce a new style.

The Arts and Crafts Movement

http://char.txa.cornell.edu/art/decart/artcraft/artcraft.htm

Larkin Soap

Elbert Hubbard was a failure in everything that he did.  In fact, he once stated, “A failure is a man who has blundered, but is not able to cash in the experience”.  His lack of success in marriage, college, and writing did not discourage him from greatly triumphing in reshaping a process that now makes America run, product sales and marketing.  His strategies made his brother-in-laws soap company, The Larkin Soap Company, a household name.

It was not until after Hubbard left the Larkin Soap Company that he became enthralled by the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain.  His interests in William Morris’ work throughout Britain lead him to organize the Roycroft Community of artists, builders, publishers, and producers of furniture and copper.  However, the American Arts and Crafts Movement differed greatly from that of England’s.  It was when the designed a printing press that Hubbard was finally able to publish as an author, one of his lifelong dreams.  It was the Roycroft community that had a great influence on the Arts and Crafts movement in America.  In fact, his work and ambitions have been recognized as that forefather of today’s bloggers, social networks, and other internet communities.

Although referred to as a failure, his successes far outweigh those of his failures.   He did in the end succeed in creating a following for himself in New York, revolutionized the process of marketing, and published a book, which is said to be the most successful part of the Roycroft Community.  His efforts will not go unacknowledged.

Elbert Hubbard, Roycroft and the Arts & Crafts Movement in America

Art Nouveau

Hector Guimard is the envelopment of all Art nouveau style. His designs are found throughout the loved architecture of France.  He curvy entrances have been copied by designers throughout the years, but these copycats were common during his time as well.  In fact, when his extensive paycheck was reviewed, others were hired to complete his work for a cheaper price.

Guimard’s technique was taking a design throughout the entire structure to make the building complete in theme and pattern.  This was a method that he was known for, a symmetry in design.  His attention to detail could not be overlooked in every work of art he completed.  This is seen in his Castel Beranger, Café Antoine, Hotel Mezzara, and many others.  The latter of which is the most accessible to the public and used to display art within its own artistic atmosphere. 

Although the descriptions of his art/architecture are exquisite, it takes a real enthusiast to visit a building simply for a door that was built to perfection.  His ability to design is so fascinating in that he was a leader in such fantastic style.  It is a shame that the majority of his work is locked away to the private eye of those who dwell within his structures, but the work that is visible to the common eye has proven that Hector Guimard is in fact the encompassing of Art nouveau.  He was a teacher to many after him and similar work can be seen throughout France. In fact, Jules Lavirotte designed many buildings that hold a similar beauty to that of Guimard. It is simply the original that holds so much interest for so many.

Europa 1900:  The Art Nouveau Style

http://aroundtheworld.phileas-fogg.net/art-nouveau/paris.html

Chéret

Today, in a world dominated by advertising methods, posters are so common to us that it rarely comes to mind that they were at one time non-existent and hard to come by.  Although invented by Alois Senefelder, it was Jules Chéret who perfected the lithography technique of printing posters in the 1800s thus giving him the title “father of the poster”.  This technique allowed for mass produce of the poster, which had been handmade since the 1600s.

Not only did he refine lithography, he designed posters that reshaped the art in France for years to come.  Other artists followed in his footsteps designing posters that covered the buildings of France, a far cry from previous years when mass printing of posters was impossible.  It was at this point that a tax was invented for poster.  No posters were allowed to be posted publicly without a stamp stating that the fee was paid and even then, it had to be posted in designated areas throughout the city.  However, Chéret’s posters were so popular that people would steal them off of buildings shortly after they were posted.

Before the end of the decade, Chéret had designed over 1000 posters, had become the topic of a book written about his endless success and creativity, and had revolutionized the world of posters.  Even today we see his techniques being used in advertisements, a picture tells the story while few words are added for explanation.  Whatever the design or the printing technique, Jules Chéret will live on as the “father of the poster”.

(A BRIEF) HISTORY OF POSTERS

http://www.francofolie.com/posterHistory.htm