Arts and Crafts

The Arts and Crafts emerged from Britain in 1880, spreading throughout Europe and on to the United States and Canada for the next 40 years. This movement was a style unique to the 19th century, which was not influenced by eras part or by surrounding contemporary events, namely the Industrial Revolution. Whilst the Western world had become obsessed and enchanted by machine-made products, pioneers of the Arts and Crafts movement promoted traditional craftsmanship and opposed mass-production. One of the most famous designers of the movement was William Morris, celebrated for his textiles in floral patterns. John Ruskin, founder of the University of Oxford's prestigious Ruskin School of Art, was also a crucial figure, inspiring the philosophy behind the movement. A number of other important artistic styles coincided with Arts and Crafts, drawing influences from this unprecedented movement; these styles include Art Nouveau, De Stijl and Bauhaus.