The Aesthetic Movement (Aestheticism)

What words were most associated with the word "craft" in our class Poll Everywhere?

Handmade, hobby, and skill.

What are the three key terms for the Aesthetic Movement?

"Art for art's sake," wood engraving, and stained glass.

What was the Aesthetic Movement also called?

Aestheticism

What were some words used to describe the Aesthetic Movement?

Luxurious, artistic, exotic, ornate, and decorative.

What did the Aesthetic Movement focus on more than practicality?

Looks, beauty and appearance

How did the Aethetic Movement compare to the Art and Craft Movement?

The Aesthetic movement was more luxurious, decorative and ornate while Arts and Crafts was more simple, basic, natural and minimal

What did the descriptive words used for both movements represent?

Values

True or False the Aesthetic Movement and Arts and Crafts Movement was connected.

True there was strong overlap.

When did the Aesthetic Movement become popular in England?

The 1870s-1880s

What does “Art for Arts sake” mean?

Art and design should be values for their beauty and artisitc qualities rather than just their function.

What did the Aesthetic Movment Believe about the equality of the arts?

Different forms of art and design could all be valued as art.

What was emphasized about the role of the designer during the Aesthetic Movement?

Designers were thought of as artist, with originality, innovation and agency.

What were the main aesthetic values of the movement?

Formal elements, beauty and inventiveness.

***What is this lamp called, and who made it?

Louis Comfort Tiffany

“Waterlily” table lamp, bronze and leaded Favrile glass

manufactured by Tiffany Studios

***When was this made and what movement?

1904-14

Aesthetic Movement.

***What inspired these kinds of lamps? Who mostly designed them?

Natural world in plants

Teams of women (which explored gender dynamics)

Who designed Leaves and Flowers from Nature and the bowl?

Christopher Dresser.

What design qualities can be seen in Christopher Dresser's work?

Clean lines, order, and containment.

How did Dresser's bowl show originality and innovation?

It looked different from anyone else's idea of what a bowl should look like.

What did designers during the Aesthetic Movement think about their role as artists?

They valued originality, innovation, and agency.

What does "Leaders Not Followers" mean when describing Christopher Dresser's designs?

Designers should come up with original ideas that look different from what everyone else is doing.

How did the Aesthetic Movement differ from Arts and Crafts when it came to Historicism?

The Aesthetic Movement used much less Historicism than the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Weird Square buffet table images:  What culture inspired Godwin's buffet?

Japanese culture.

What does Godwin's buffet show about the influences on Aesthetic Movement design?

Designers were inspired by other cultures, including Japanese culture.

 Who created Princess from the Land of Porcelain and Harmony in Blue and Gold?

James McNeill Whistler.

What did painters and sculptors notice about the market during this time?

There was a strong market need for more stylistically refined work.

How did some painters and sculptors respond to this market need?

They adapted design into their artistic practice.

Who was James McNeill Whistler?

An American painter who worked in London and was very well known.

What room did Whistler design for Frederic Leyland's house?

A room for Chinese porcelain.

What did Whistler do after finishing the portion of the room he was hired to design?

He kept going and continued designing the room.

Why did Whistler continue working on the room?

He thought continuing was what the room wanted.

What does Whistler's decision to keep designing the room show about artist agency?

He believed his artistic vision had higher priority than the original limits of the project or the person who hired him.

Why was Whistler's room an example of "Art for art's sake"?

Its primary focus was already aesthetic because it was designed to display art, rather than serve a practical purpose like a dining room.

How did Whistler's room prioritize beauty over function?

It was designed as a beautiful thing for its own sake, focusing on style and beauty rather than function.

What was another strand of the Aesthetic Movement?

Children's book illustration.

Who were two important children books editors during the aesthetic movement?

Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway.

What did Caldecott and Greenaway's illustrations use to create alternate realities?

Imagination and a free range of animation.

What printing advancements helped children's book illustration during this time?

Advancements in printing technology, including collaboration between illustrators and engravers.

How were the illustrations by Caldecott and Greenaway produced?

Illustrators and engravers collaborated, using a metal plate that was then used for printing.

How did Greenaway both follow and break away from traditions?

Her work appealed to tradition through its nostalgic characters but broke away from traditions through its composition

What qualities of the Aesthetic Movement carried over into the United States?

Beauty, stylistic skill, finesse, and designers who trained as artists.

What type of objects were more common in the American Aesthetic Movement?

More decorative objects than functional ones.

What material and technique were used to create Peonie, Blown in the Wind by John La Farge in the US Aesthetic Movement?

 Leaded opalescent glass.

What does La Farge's window show about the use of materials in the Aesthetic Movement?

Technical skill allowed designers to manipulate materials and create unique, innovative aesthetic effects.

***What was the Favrile glass vase from Tiffany Studios an example of?

The popularity of stained glass and decorative glasswork in America

What was the main emphasis in American Aesthetic Movement designs?

Beauty

***How do the different parts of the Waterlily lamp work together?

Each element feels like it is harmonizing with the others. The bronze base feels like it belongs to the same world as the stained glass shade.

***What issue does the Tiffany lamp design team bring up?

Gender dynamics within the team and who received authorship for the designs. As well as the domestic sphere and the home.

How How was the home viewed during the time of the Tiffany Lamp?

The home was seen as a haven and was associated with the domestic sphere.

 Where was fashion especially important during the Aesthetic Movement in Europe?

Paris

What emerged in Paris during during the Aesthetic Movement?

Haute couture, or high fashion.

What technological innovation helped change fashion production?

The sewing machine.

Who was Charles Frederick Worth?

A fashion designer who founded the House of Worth.

What was Charles Frederick Worth known for?

His comprehensive approach to fashion.

Aesthetic movement and fashion invovled…

Intricacy of detail, the designer as an artist, beauty over utility, and the manipulation of materials to create unity among all the elements of a dress.

!!!What was the importance of the designer for the Aesthetic Movement?

The designer was emphasized as an artist. Originality, innovation, agency, and personal artistic vision were important. This applied to both English and American examples.

!!!How did designers in the Aesthetic Movement show that they were artists?

They created original designs, experimented with materials, and prioritized beauty and artistic expression.

!!!What kind of social space did late nineteenth-century department stores advocate?

Your notes don't include the answer to this one yet, so I would leave it open until you have the lecture slide or notes for it.

Key Terms

• Art for art's sake: Beauty and artistic value matter on their own, not just function.

• Designer as artist: Designers have originality, innovation, and agency.

• Beauty over utility: A design can prioritize how it looks over what it does.

• Unity: All the elements of a design should feel like they belong together.

• Strong overlap: Aestheticism and Arts and Crafts had different visual styles, but they weren't completely separate movements.

 What is shown in the Meat Hall at Harrods Department Store in London (1902)?

A department store space with tiled walls and decorative design elements.

How did department stores contribute to consumer culture?

They put people in a position to choose from a bunch of different goods.

What kind of social space did late nineteenth-century department stores advocate?

A socially acceptable place for women to socialize and go by themselves.

What is a "third space"?

 A place that is not home, school, or work, where people can gather for informal interaction and community building.

How were department stores different from traditional domestic spaces?

They were not defined by domestic housing or the roles people had at home.

What did early department stores offer besides shopping?

Concerts, tea rooms, and other opportunities for socializing.

How did design contribute to the department store experience?

Food and decorative elements helped make the space appealing.

How did mail-order catalogues connect rural America to consumer culture?

People living in rural areas could look through catalogues, order products, and have goods sent to their homes.

What is the progression from "Art for art's sake" to identity to industry about?

The connection between artistic design, identity, and industrial production and distribution.