Kelmscott Manor: From the Orchard 1896

Frederick Evans made this platinum print, "Kelmscott Manor: From the Orchard," around 1896. The image encapsulates the Arts and Crafts movement's fascination with pre-industrial rural life. Evans' soft focus and composition, framing the manor house through the orchard trees, evokes a sense of idyllic retreat. Kelmscott Manor was the country home of William Morris, a central figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, which reacted against industrialization and celebrated traditional craftsmanship. This photograph wasn't just a depiction of a building; it was of a cultural shrine. The Arts and Crafts movement sought to reform design and society, believing that beautiful, handcrafted objects could improve people's lives, making photographs like this politically charged. To further understand this image, we could explore the writings of William Morris and the history of the Kelmscott Press, gaining insight into the social and artistic ideals that shaped this vision of utopian rurality.