Formations of the Modern Movement

Responses To Industrialism

Many important changes came about in the late nineteenth century where designers were eager to participate in more socially conscious businesses created by the Arts and Crafts movement.  Vision of socialist alternatives emerged during this time as criticisms of labor practices and industrial pollution grew.  At the same time there were several influential theories brought forth by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles regarding the condition and power of the working classes.  Artists ad designers sought to restore the dignity of labor and the pleasures of craft making.

Click here for more information on Karl Marx and suggested readings.

Click here for more information on Friedrich Engles.

Arts and Crafts Publications

This movement provided huge impact on the design of fine press and trade books as well as artists' journals.  The Arts and Crafts movement created a distinct style and the ideals were closely linked to the economic force and cultural reach of the British Empire.  Though short lived, there were many artists and writers that created their own journals in order to internationalize this movement and took control of every aspect of these publications.  They sought out handmade papers and collaborated with printers through the entire production of their books.

The mass produced books of the time lacked in quality, design, and workmanship so the new sensibilities challenged the conventional view of books and pushed the designers to create 'beautiful books'. 

1.  An example of images created during the Arts and Crafts movement.  During this time the aesthetic became more refined and artists took pride in what they were creating.  The new styles included a preference of clean lines and clear organization.  They banished the idea of the excessiveness of Victorian domesticity.

Art Nouveau

This term emerged during the late 1800s and was generally applied to anything that rejected historical references and brought forth 'new' sensibilities.  Originally established by a gallery owner, Siegfried Bing, it soon became wide spread and a successful style adopted by many artists.  The goal of Art Nouveau were anti-elitist aimed at cultivating and gratifying the taste of the bourgeois.  It integrated shapes and expressions into the overall form of the object and structure.  It drew on a more eastern philosophy of design, primarily Japanese, where the compositions were asymmetrical.  This proved useful in many graphic design projects including logos, books, type, and packaging.

2.  An example of Art Nouveau style by Alphonse Mucha

Viennese Design

The Viennese design style took another turn in the evolution of graphic design.  Whereas previously in the Victorian era where the idea was the more the better, Viennese designers chose to simplify, distill, and modernize design.  Gustav Klimt initiated the Vienna Seccession and attempted to forge a relationship between fine art and applied art.  The first exhibition of the Seccession proved to be a tremendous success and achieved public acclaim and recognition.  Part of the Seccession movement was the Vienna Workshop (Wiener Weerkstatte) where they tried to consolidate their comittment to merging fine and applied arts even more.  This emphasized the notion of modernity in style and approach to creating art.

3.  Click here to read more on Gustav Klimt.

Decadence and Aestheticism

During the same time of the Arts and Crafts movement, a separate art movement gained momentum in denying the functionalism of art.  They tried to express through their art that the function of art was not to be used practically, but more for amusement and aesthetic purposes.  They took the anti-utilitarian and anti industrial stance.  

Glossary

Bohemianism - the unconventional sensibility of late nineteenth century artists who eschewed bourgeois values and engaged in imaginative behaviors and expression.

Functionalism - an attitude according to which the effective operation of an object, space, or communication is of paramount value in its design.

Modern Movement - any of of several artistic groups that aimed to define styles, forms, or values for contemporary life.

Modernity - the historical period of cultural change associated with the effects of industrial revolution.

Works Cited

"Arts and Crafts Movement Philosophy." Handicraft Guild. 4 Nov. 2008.

"Gustav Klimt." 4 Nov. 2008.

"Friedrich Engels." Politics Professor. 4 Nov. 2008.

"Marx." 4 Nov. 2008.