Victorian Era is an incredibly significant period in design history as it influenced future trends in art and introduced new creative methods which were then been made possible by the growing economy and continuing urbanisation. This art movement was especially prevalent in 19th-century England – biggest economy at that time. This art movement can be labelled as a continuation of the Industrial Revolution. Breakthroughs in technology, art, and science continued into a new century - it was a time of continuous change and experimentation which is reflected in the art.
Victorian Era spans the time period between 1837 and 1901, almost but not exactly corresponding to the years of Queen Victoria’s life. Queen Victoria was an especially influential figure at the time. Beloved by the public, she bestowed values of respectability, the importance of family, traditional gender roles, elitism, and duty. The favourability of the elite is reflected in Victorian Era designs. They are heavily embellished and have a luxurious and grandiose quality to them. Designs are usually decorated with various embellishments, are full of detail, as well as filled with different kinds and sizes of fonts.
Even in advertisements, the elite would be depicted and not the working class. Leaflets, billboards and posters, handbills, flyers, and trade cards were all forms of advertisement. By the end of the 19th century, adverts could often be seen on posters and billboards in public spaces.
Urbanisation and industrialisation came with a set of problems, the biggest of which was pollution. Smoke in the air, sewage on the streets, and poor personal hygiene. Consequently, Victorian art often has a dark colour palette. There are many examples of poisonous substances being exposed to the public. Poisonous substance Arsenic was used in green paint, which in turn was used to colour clothing fabrics, and/or walls, and interior details. The collective understanding of the toxicity of this substance started to develop when one after another people started getting extremely ill and even dying in frequent instances. Surprisingly, arsenic was never officially banned by the government, people simply stopped buying products containing it, and businesses even advertised their goods to be arsenic-free.
Some notable artists from this era include William Morris, a British textile designer, poet, artist, fantasy writer (The Earthly Paradise, The Kelmscott Chaucer), architectural conservationist, printer, translator, and socialist activist primarily associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. designs for wallpapers, textiles, and carpets. Augustus Pugin, an English architect, designer, and artist, remembered for his pioneering role in the Gothic Revival style of architecture. Christopher Dresser, one of the first and most important independent industrial designers.
Designed by William Morris, manufactured by Jeffrey & Co., 1874, England. Museum no. E.468-1919. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Designed by William Morris, manufactured and printed by Jeffrey & Co., 1879, England. Museum no. E.513-1919. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Designed by William Morris, manufactured by Jeffrey & Co., 1875, England. Museum no. E.800-1915. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Designed by William Morris, manufactured by Jeffrey & Co., 1874, England. Museum no. E.468-1919. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Victorian-era design inspiration can be seen in some modern artists' work. Dana Tanamashi's art possesses strong similarities with 1800s design. Dana Tanamachi is a Brooklyn-based graphic designer and letterer who creates custom typography for editorial, lifestyle, food, and fashion brands. Most of her work is hand-made and full of intricate detail. Her designs often possess a strong east and south Asian influence. They also are full of detail, often depicting floral motives, and featuring different fonts.
References:
Tanamachi Studio. (n.d.). Tanamachi Studio. [online] Available at: http://www.tanamachistudio.com. Antique Rugs by Doris Leslie Blau. (2016). The Chalk Queen: Dana Tanamachi. [online] Available at: https://www.dorisleslieblau.com/chalk-queen-dana-tanamachi/. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Victorian decorative arts. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_decorative_arts. www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Queen Victoria & the Victorian Era Documentary. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk3wcR-u1Fk [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023]. www.youtube.com. (n.d.). The Many Extraordinary Dangers Of Living In The Victorian Era | Hidden Killers | Timeline. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nqq_nFkRcs&t=688s [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023]. Victoria and Albert Museum. (2020). V&A · William Morris and wallpaper design. [online] Available at: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/william-morris-and-wallpaper-design. clickamericana.com. (2019). Victorian graphic design: Stylized paint labels (1870s & 1880s) - Click Americana. [online] Available at: https://clickamericana.com/topics/home-garden/victorian-graphic-design-stylized-paint-labels-1870s-1880s. lizbdesign (2015). Modern Victorian Design. [online] LBDesign. Available at: https://lbdesignblog.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/modern-victorian-inspired-design/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023]. Limited, A. (n.d.). Original 1890s vintage Victorian advertisement advertising VIGOR HORSE ACTION SADDLE, advert circa 1898 Stock Photo - Alamy. [online] www.alamy.com. Available at: https://www.alamy.com/original-1890s-vintage-victorian-advertisement-advertising-vigor-horse-image60623167.html [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023]. Npr.org. (2019). NPR Choice page. [online] Available at: https://www.npr.org/2015/03/12/392332431/dirty-old-london-a-history-of-the-victorians-infamous-filth.