The years of anticipation

Relatively calm years of Pax Britannica were over even before the beginning of the WWI in 1914. People felt the anticipation and changes coming along with the new century. Since the Industrial Revolution, the world was undergoing major alterations on the speed that had never been seen before. Each and every aspect of life was affected, from industry and agriculture to culture and religion. In the class we touched upon major topics of interest, starting with graphic design and then focusing more on the spirit of XX century in politics, social issues and culture. The movie featured the major events in the United States and the world and how they led to the greatest conflict in the history. 

The Vienna Secession movement formed in 1897 was a group of young painters, designers and architects. The first president was Gustav Klimt whose works expressed the ideas of the Secession. Psychological and intellectual language of art used by Klimt and artists belonging to the group reflected a need for a  new, modern approach to art and culture in general. Other members were Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and Max Kurzweil, Egon Schiele. At the same time in Germany there was another progressive group called Deutscher Werkbund, German Work Federation. Artists from different fields, like painting, design, architecture saw a possibility of interaction between art and industry. The motto of the group Vom Sofakissen zum Städtebau (From sofa cushions to city-building) indicates how manufacture-oriented it was. 

Among 12 architects working with Werkbund organization Peter Behrens became one of the leading figures. He started his career as a painter associated with the Jugendstil and moved his interest towards architecture in 1899 at the age of 30. Four years later he was appointed a director of Kunstgewerberschule in Dusseldorf. During his stay at the school he introduced foundations classes and educational reforms. Few years passed and Behrens got involved into a creation of Werkbund. The principles that William Morris implemented to the Arts and Crafts movement were also applied to German organization. However, the founders felt a need of changing an initial model and twist it towards a modern, practical movement. Behrens continued his work as an architect and designer in a close association with Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft, AEG. This German electric company commissioned him with a logo and the project turned out to be the first fully comprehensive identity program including consistent layout, typography and logo based on a grid. The grid is also visible in the construction of AEG turbine factory that Behrens completed in 1909. The building made of brick and glass automatically relates to its function as an industrial site. 

Plakatstil was another form of artistic expression present in Germany at the beginning of XX century. The main characteristics of Plakatstil were contrasting color combination, bold straight type, simple imagery. Started with a simple poster design by Lucian Bernard in 1906 it became a leading style for poster design for commercial goods, but also social and political issues. War posters as a source of propaganda in the countries of Axis, such as Germany started to have more important role in the society. They had sophisticated design that combined simple graphic forms with metaphorical meanings such. On the other hand the countries belonging to the Allies, especially the United States focused on heart warming imagery of national symbols of patriotism and pride, such as boy scouts or Statue of Liberty. In a contrast with graphic forms they used detailed illustrations. 

I believe that in the period preceding the WWI, art and artists became more involved in the social issues. They did not only discuss current events and portrayed them in their works, but also formed groups and organizations that worked with the industry and government. By declaring a political and social  statements they turned away from a stereotypical picture of an artist and served as public figures for the people. I think it follows along the discussion of William Morris' involvement in British politics I started in a previous post. For me each artist, designer, painter or architect has a moral responsibility to find their place in the society and through their work and actions become engaged with the world around.

On a second note I really enjoyed the movie showing the life of common people on the edge of XIX and XX century. Although it mostly focused on American history I was very interested in the differences between the New and Old continent. It seemed to me that while from European perspective I tend to think about social, scientific and philosophical changes that started at that point in the history, Americans were more involved in rag, jazz and resorts. I do not believe that we can compare the turn into XX century with our experience of XXI century. While 100 years ago the lives of most of the people were still focused within their families and cities now though new means of communications we are involved in the world issues and events from across the globe can affect us as much as the national happenings. 

AEG by P.Behrens

Gustav Klimt

 Lucian Bernard

The beauty of Art Nouveau

Today in class we discussed an amazing movement of Art Nouveau. I think it is one of the most amazing periods of history for graphic design and art in general. On one hand it is a continuation of John Ruskin's and William Morris' testimony based on the movement of arts and crafts. On the other hand it is a style that introduced new, fascinating solutions and brought together typography and art. There are several important names without whom Art Nouveau could not progress and in this note I want to highlight the greatest achievements and changes that these particular people initiated. 
The essence of Art Nouveau is hidden in its sensuality, femininity, organic ornamentation, geometric lines and shapes. It started in Brussels in the last years of XIX century as an opposition to the academic schools and Classical inspirations (many scholars point out to England in 1860s as the beginning). Although nowadays it is mostly associated with graphics of such artists as Alphonse Mucha, the movement was yet an another attempt after Morris' arts and crafts to unite art and life in general and create a modern style. Monet, Gauguin, Van Gogh or Toulouse-Lautrec were highly influenced by Art Nouveau and its inspirations found in Japanese prints. In literature there were Baudelairel, D'Annunzio, Proust, Maeterlinck, Ibsen. In music Debussy, Sibelius, Strauss. 'New Art' or 'Jugendstil' was the first modern movement that has changed the tendencies in arts on all fields.
Jules Cheret is named the father of modern poster. Although he started as a painter inspired with Victorian art, he became a leading persona in advertising. He introduced an idea of an ideal woman, shocking at his time, and replicated on all of his posters. Since he worked on the three stone process on lithography, the colors were more vibrant and truly reflected Parisian night life in cafes and theaters, such as famous Moulin Rouge. Within time his designs were so popular that as soon as the posters were hung on the walls people stole them and keep in private collections. In 1884 Cheret decided on opening the first poster exhibition in Paris. Among the participants there were such artists as Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, Mucha, Steinlen, Grasset, Penfield, Parrish and Bradley.
Eugene Grasset, considered a pioneer of Art Nouveau also lived and worked in Paris, the bohemian capital at the time. His unique style was based on a heavy block lines. He did not only focus on print, but created designs for tapestry, wallpaper, jewelry, fabrics and furniture. Later in his life he was commissioned  by Harper's Magazine to make a series of advertising. This was the movement was introduced on a New Continent and later developed by William Bradley and Ethel Reed, referred to as the first American female figure in the field of graphic design. 
Arthur Mackmurdo further developed the block printing effect in his works. Inspired with an encounter with John Ruskin with whom he travelled to Italy in 1874 he and Selwyn Image set up the Century Guild of Artists. It was a successful partnership that involved not only the production of interiors, furniture and buildings but was involved in 'Hobby Horse Magazine' first released in 1882. It treated of art, design and ideas and was open to broader audience. 
Aubrey Breardsley was another influential artist who set up a popular at the time magazine, entitled 'The Studio'. In his work he used inspirations found in Japanese woodcuts. His erotic images, shocking for his contemporaries. were based on mythology and history (e.g. 'Salome' advertising the play by Oscar Wilde). 
Among all artists Alphonse Mucha is an unquestionable father of Art Nouveau. He found fame working in a little print shop in Paris when one night he was surprised with a visit of Sarah Bernardt. She was the most famous French actress, working on the stage of Théâtre de la Renaissance on the Boulevard Saint-Martin. Within two weeks Mucha was commissioned to produce posters for her play Gismonda. Overnight he became the most sensational artist in bohemian Paris and from a simple art student from Czechs he turned into a leading persona in the emerging movement of Art Nouveau. He brought his noncommercial style to the advertising. Th characteristics of his designs are in the curly hair, feminine figures, sensual poses on the decorative background using gradient pastel colors and golden ornamentation. 
At the time of Belle Epoque in England, Art Nouveau in France, German artists were under the influence of Jugendstil, the style of the youth. Young artists studying at the universities incorporated the spirit of Art Nouveau into their own designs focusing on the geometric forms, curve and lineal elements, rectal structure of the works, floral and organic ornamentation. There was a strong tendency towards symbolism, allegoric imagery and stylized forms. On the other side of the continent in Britain four students of the Glasgow School created an influential movement, later called Glasgow Style. The Four, also known as the Spooky School Margaret and Frances MacDonald, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Herbert MacNair were inspired with Japanes prints, Celtic Revival very popular at the time another art movement and the works of other Art Nouveau artists such as Mucha (elongated forms, sensual images). 
I think that Art Nouveau brought some of the greatest inspirations to the arts. There is a union of 'higher arts' with such forms as posters, postal cards, furniture, interior design. On one hand designers who produced commercial works for advertising used illustration imagery and on the other hand artists such as Gauguin incorporated design and typography in their works (e.g. Gauguin was signing his works by incorporating the signature to the paintings).  Young students who were lectured on the Neoclassical style, were looking for a modern forms of expression. They intended to not only limit themselves to art but expand the impact of the new thinking thought the distribution of magazines, papers, manifestos, exhibitions. It shows a real dedication and belief in the arts. Groups such as the Four proved to the contemporary people that artists have a chance and should break the boundaries and seek above the Neoclassical and academic examples. Personally among all Art Nouveau artists I have always admired Alphonse Mucha. His noncommercial approach to the design, used for the public purposes (such as posters hung on the streets), and constancy of the style are  great inspirations. When I got a chance to visit his museum on the central plaza in Prague, Czech Republic, I was truly amazed. Thanks to Mucha people of the era had a unique opportunity to live daily life among one of the greatest artworks pasted on the streets. 
PS: First time I could correct American pronunciation thanks to my origin. Czech and Polish language are so similar and it's MUCHA, with H like in Heaven, and funnily enough it means a fly. 
PPS: A beautiful movie about Mucha:

    

Eugene Grasset | The Four, Margareth McDonald | Jules Cheret | Alphonse Mucha

Morris, Rossetti & Jane

Today we discovered more about the life of William Morris, his colleague and soulmate Dante Rossetti and Jane, the muse and the lover of both men. The film gets into details of a complex relationship between three characters and years when Morris, passionate about the arts and crafts,  became involved into politics. 

In the 1870s he got interested in socialism, an idea flourishing in Europe and promoted by such individuals as Robert Owen, Henri de Sain Simon and later Marx and Engels. Perhaps inspired by John Ruskin and his Utopian thoughts on art and life in general, Morris joined the Social Democratic Federation and was voted an executive. Yet soon it appeared that the federation did not have enough support in the society. During 10 years of his strong involvement in the politics the party was outnumbered by anarchists and in 1890 Morris withdrew. 

Although not officially in charge, he did not give up and kept on writing political essays, pro Socialist lectures and one of his most best-known work entitles 'News from Nowhere'. Nevertheless he became disappointed and disillusioned and came back to his primer interest: art and literature. 

In 1888 after hearing a lecture by Emery Walker at the Arts and Crafts Society in London Morris started experimenting with typography as a new interest of his. He devoted much of his last years to the labour of illuminated manuscripts and calligraphy. 'The House of the Wolfings' in 1889 and later 'The Roots of the Mountains' were his first manuscripts printed and illuminated.Eventually he designed three typefaces used in his prints. Golden is an Old Style typeface and was based on the type used by Nicolaus Jenson. First book printed at Morris' Kelmscott printing press using Golden was 'The Glittering Plain', published on May 8, 1891. Later he worked on two more typefaces: Troy and Chaucer (smaller version of Troy), based on the black letter type. Troy was so named as it was to be used in the Kelmscott edition of Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye, published in 1892 (first book printed in English). Commenting on his typography he said:

It was the essence of my undertaking to produce books which it would be a pleasure to look upon as pieces of printing and arrangement of type. To producing some [books] which would have a definite aim of beauty, while they should be easy to read and not dazzle the eye.”

I think that Morris is one of the most interesting figures in the history of graphic designers and typographers. Not only because he worked on so many fields and produced an extreme amount of materials we know him for today. I think it is very inspiring to see an artist getting involved with the public, as Morris did as a member of a political party. He did not only devote himself to making beautiful objects that would make human life more meaningful and close himself in the circle of arts. He saw the changes happening around him in the society and responded. Living during the Industrial Revolution era among the people trapped in the gap between the past and presence, Morris wanted to act. Even though he was not successful at pursuing his career in the socialist federation, I admire his courage to step down and speak up. I feel that many contemporary designers close themselves in a field and do not feel a need for interacting with a real world. The world that cannot be defined by money, technology and trends. I think that taking Morris' example designers as well as all artists  should realize what a difference they can make in other fields. Labeling ourselves as successful designers, painters, animators does not mean an alienation from the issues that the world is struggling with. 

 Morris' manuscript

 The Golden Type