A masculine twist William Morris



I have always admired the works of William Morris and have often driven past one of his homes in Walthamstow (East London), which is now a museum and gallery. I decided to finally dedicate some time to going inside and wondering around and generally gazing in admiration at his works.

The man himself - Self portrait 1856
"I was born at Walthamstow in Essex in March 1834, a suburban village on the edge of Epping Forest, and once a pleasant place, but now terribly cocknified and chocked up by the jerry builder" (William Morris, letter to Andreas Scheu, 5.8.1883, quoted by Briggs, 1962, p.29).

Time for a few facts:

William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement.
His chief contribution to the arts was as a designer of repeating patterns for wallpapers and textiles, many based on a close observation of nature. He was also a major contributor to the resurgence of traditional textile arts and methods of production.

 By 1883, Morris wrote "Almost all the designs we use for surface decoration, wallpapers, textiles, and the like, I design myself. I have had to learn the theory and to some extent the practice of weaving, dyeing and textile printing: all of which I must admit has given me and still gives me a great deal of enjoyment".

Behind the picture - William Morris

Take a look at William Morris's initial sketch for 'Trellis' below, and see how it turned out in the final wallpaper print.

© William Morris Gallery

Original design for Trellis, 1862, William Morris

© William Morris Gallery

Trellis wallpaper, 1862, William Morris



When I was walking around the museum I just couldnt  get over how much work he had produced, he must have never stopped working and creating. I was completly overwelmed by the printed and woven textiles and Wallpapers. Although most of these incoproated images from nature, whether it was flowers,Plants, fruits or birds they are had a distinct masculine feel. Which I think has helped them to stay as current and distinctive now as then.

 As in so many other areas that interested him, Morris chose to work with the ancient technique of hand woodblock printing in preference to the roller printing which had almost completely replaced it for commercial uses.

Here are a few highlights of my visit.......complete with a commentary!

A wall full of a selection of his wallpaper designs.

Some pictures that showed the traditional methods of production.

A particularly flamboyant tile design.

You could tell by looking at each piece of Morris's work the intricate attention paid to every stage of design and production.
His only advice to people who wanted beauty was to "Look back! Look back!" Art should be for repose and escape. He wanted the artist to have the sympathy of 'simple people'.

Well I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I think it was only fitting to treat myself to something from the gift shop and what better than a William Morris Umbrella, ohh how people will gaze at my brolly when its pouring down with rain!!

Come rain or shine  a Morris design will put a smile on your face!!

So if you get a chance, in fact make a chance, take a trip and visit the William Morris Museum.

You certainly wont be disappointed in fact I think it will inspire you for ideas for your home, my next entry I will write about how William Morris designs have been used in homes now and how I think you could use them.

www.walthamforest.gov.uk/william-morris  

I also read this William Morris quote that I love , "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful".