7.2 The Pre-Raphaelites and the Arts and Crafts Movement

The Pre-Raphaelites and Arts and Crafts Movement rejected industrialization, championing traditional craftsmanship and nature-inspired art. These movements sought to reform art by emphasizing detailed observation, handmade quality, and medieval influences.

Both groups valued beauty in everyday objects and promoted social change through art. Their ideas about craftsmanship, nature, and the unity of art and life had a lasting impact on design and attitudes towards creativity.

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Principles

Founding and Objectives

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• The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded in 1848 by English painters, poets, and art critics William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti
• Sought to reform art by rejecting the mechanistic approach of Mannerist artists who succeeded Raphael and Michelangelo, hence the name "Pre-Raphaelite"
• Believed in treating serious subjects with maximum realism, emphasizing detailed observation of the natural world
• Inspired by John Ruskin's theories, which urged artists to "go to nature" and paint from direct observation

Artistic Techniques and Themes

• Used bright colors and a wet white ground to achieve heightened reality in paintings
• Frequently chose subjects from literature and poetry, particularly from the medieval period and works of Shakespeare and Tennyson
• Painted with great attention to detail, often depicting intricate patterns, textures, and symbols
• Explored themes of beauty, nature, religion, and social issues in their work

Medieval Influence on Pre-Raphaelites

Artistic Inspiration

• Greatly influenced by medieval art and literature, seen as a model of artistic and spiritual purity
• Admired the flat, linear style of medieval painting and use of bright, pure colors, which they emulated in their own work
• Drew inspiration from intricate details and symbolism found in medieval illuminated manuscripts
• Influenced by the jewel-like colors and flattened perspective of medieval stained glass

Literary Themes

• Particularly drawn to Arthurian legends and other medieval romances, providing a rich source of subject matter
• Depicted scenes from Dante's Divine Comedy, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and other medieval literary works
• Incorporated medieval symbolism and iconography into their paintings, such as halos, angels, and religious motifs
• Part of the broader Victorian fascination with the Middle Ages, known as the Medieval Revival

Pre-Raphaelites vs Arts and Crafts

Shared Principles and Influences

• Arts and Crafts Movement emerged in late 19th century, significantly influenced by Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
• Both rejected mechanization and mass production of the Industrial Revolution in favor of handcraftsmanship and traditional techniques
• Embraced similar principles: value of craftsmanship, importance of nature as inspiration, unity of art and life
• Key figures in Arts and Crafts Movement (William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones) closely associated with Pre-Raphaelites, sharing artistic and social ideals

Artistic Parallels

• Pre-Raphaelites' emphasis on detailed observation and accurate representation of nature reflected in naturalistic designs of Arts and Crafts textiles, wallpapers, and decorative arts
• Medieval influences evident in Pre-Raphaelite art also found expression in Arts and Crafts Movement, particularly in Gothic Revival style of architecture and design
• Both movements celebrated the beauty and simplicity of nature, incorporating organic forms and motifs into their work
• Shared an appreciation for the handmade and unique, rejecting the uniformity and soullessness of mass-produced goods

Craftsmanship in the Arts and Crafts Movement

Rejection of Industrialization

• Emerged as a reaction against industrialization and mechanization of the Victorian era, seen as dehumanizing and detrimental to quality of goods and lives of workers
• Leaders (William Morris, John Ruskin) advocated for a return to traditional craftsmanship and use of natural materials to create more beautiful and meaningful objects
• Sought to elevate status of decorative arts, previously viewed as inferior to fine arts, by emphasizing skill and creativity in their production

The Designer-Craftsman

• Promoted the idea of the designer-craftsman, involved in all aspects of the creative process from conception to execution
• Encouraged artists and craftspeople to take pride in their work and develop a deep understanding of their materials and techniques
• Believed that the direct involvement of the maker in the creation process would lead to higher quality, more expressive, and more meaningful objects

Design Principles and Social Impact

• Drew inspiration from nature, incorporating organic, flowing lines and patterns into their work, contrasting with geometric, mechanized forms of industrial production
• Had a strong social and political dimension, with adherents advocating for improved working conditions, fair wages, and the dignity of labor
• Emphasized the importance of creating functional, beautiful objects that could be used and enjoyed in everyday life
• Had a lasting impact on design, influencing later movements such as Art Nouveau and the Bauhaus, and shaping attitudes towards craftsmanship and sustainability in the modern era