Assignment 3

The arts and crafts movement, I believe, was the first art movement that began to distinguish the idea of art from graphic designer. When I think arts and crafts I think of kindergarten activities with glue, noodles and markers. Learning about the arts and crafts movement though I realize it was the first time industry production and art had crossed paths. After the renaissance art and book making took a decline because of societies push in industry. William Morris was a man, architect at the time who became an artist, because he recognized this change in society. Him and John Ruskin led the movement, driven by socialism and the improvement of life for industrial workers, led to what is known as the arts and crafts movement. The movement was ultimately a reaction to the industrial revolution, mass manufacturing and social confusion. William Morris saw the importance of art to society at this time, it was a part of culture and human life, that was needed if we were going to live in a beautiful world while industry was taking over. Morris believed hand made goods such as dressers, beds, tables, chairs and many other things should be redesigned with an artists eye. Individual designs were printed or carved into these pieces so as to easily bring art into the room, and for the first time art became an attainable thing to the working and middle class. The movement was a stand up to the mass manufactured goods spoke to the union of art and labor in society. Morris inspired many people to join the arts and crafts movement, forming companies along the way, opening up showrooms for their furniture and overall reintroducing the individual artist and art itself to a society that had become engulfed in a cold, cookie cutter industry.