Chapter 10

The Arts and Crafts movement was lead by William Morris who wanted products to have a purpose, be true to the materials and methods of production, and for there to be individual expression from the designer and the worker. This movement was also a revival of many things, such as the book and its design and older typefaces. John Ruskin was also a big part in how the Arts and Crafts movement developed. He encouraged the union of art and labor and felt that beautiful things were valuable and useful because they were. Ruskin also was involved in the social justices like education, improved housing, and retirement benefits. William Morris embraced Ruskin's theories and ideas and thus became a very important figure in design. He was a writer who had plans to join the church, but instead became an artist and established Morris and Co., which was an art-decorating firm. In 1888 Morris made the decision to start designing typefaces. His first typeface was named "Golden", which was based on Nicolas Jenson's Venetian roman faces. Morris began a press in 1890 called Kelmscott Press that committed itself to the incunabula design, woodblocks and all. Incunabula Gothic types were also brought back wider, increased size contrasts and rounder curves. Morris also designed a smaller version of Troy named Chaucer that sparked an interest in Jenson and Gothic styles. I feel that William Morris is the most interesting and important person in the readings since he was so influential to the time and he really cared about what he did. He wanted to bring back the beauty of functional works and craft, and I can appreciate that. I'm curious to know, though, why he chose Incunabula styles to bring back?