Japonisme and the Revolution of the Machine

Agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and social culture were all going to see a huge change in the time of the industrial Revolution. With the invention of the steam engine, there was a huge increase in production, and in the manufacturing of more machines. It destroyed the craftsmanship skill, were machines did people’s job and people acted like machines. Mass production and industry dominated society. Apart from stealing away the skill of the craftsman, the revolution brought urban poverty and rise of the middle-class.

Dove and Rose, William Morris, 1879, 

Silk and wool double cloth, 84 x 91.5 cm

William Morris (1834-1896) was one of the greatest designers and was against the machine and the fact that people were becoming robots. He was highly influenced by Japonisme and he was also in the ‘Arts & Crafts’ movement, which encouraged the skill of the craftsman and the beauty of handmade work. He made designs on textiles featuring nature like leaves, birds, flowers and more. One such example is ‘Dove and Rose’, designed in 1879. The background color is vibrant, with dark branches, green leaves, a patterned dove and an open rose, which are repeated several times. It is perfectly symmetrical and balanced. The green is a complimentary color to red so as you can see there’s even a balance with color.

Peacock and Dragon, William Morris, 1878, 

Woven wool panel,264.5 x 241.5 cm

A different approach by Morris on textiles was the use of Islamic colors and eastern inspired designs. One such design is ‘Peacock and Dragon’, 1878, were just like ‘Dove and Rose’ it has the same repetition of patterning that gives symmetrical balance to the design. It is geometrically correct even the creatures have a mirroring effect. The colors are vivid, with the yellow standing out.

In 1853, Japanese had opened trade with the west and there they started opening pavilions in the World Fair to exhibit their oriental objects such as fans and kimonos and also silk, which were flooding in England and France. This was a huge inspiration for artists such as Claude Monet, James Tissot and Edgar Degas of the Impressionist era.

Japonisme also influenced William De Morgan; you can see it in his beautiful vase design collection, which in its form and color shows a reflection of Eastern art. Asymmetrical creatures, patterns and bold color with various patterns are presented in his vases. Even the form was not traditional. There is visual balance with repetition of forms and geometrical patterns.

This was a time when artists started exploring different methods and seeing new techniques and new approach to perception, which changed design and the way designers and artist think.



















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The Victorian Era | Graphic Design History. 2014. The Victorian Era | Graphic Design History. [ONLINE] Available at:http://visualartsdepartment.wordpress.com/the-victorian-era/. [Accessed 24 November 2014].

The Original Morris & Co - Arts and crafts, fabrics and wallpaper designs by William Morris & Company | A Full History | British/UK Fabrics and Wallpapers. 2014. The Original Morris & Co - Arts and crafts, fabrics and wallpaper designs by William Morris & Company | A Full History | British/UK Fabrics and Wallpapers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.william-morris.co.uk/a-full-history/. [Accessed 24 November 2014].