Design drawing 1878 - 1888

Editor: Right now we're looking at "Design Drawing," created by Christopher Dresser between 1878 and 1888. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This drawing seems like a design for wallpaper or some sort of surface decoration. The colors are muted and earthy and I see floral and geometric elements. It strikes me as a bit old-fashioned. How would you interpret this work? Curator: Well, it's fascinating to consider this "Design Drawing" in the context of the Arts and Crafts movement. Dresser was a leading figure, deeply invested in reforming Victorian design. Think about the social landscape then. Mass production was booming, often at the expense of quality and artistry. How do you think this design, with its handmade feel, speaks to those anxieties? Editor: It does feel like a reaction against industrialization. The repeated patterns seem almost deliberately imperfect. Curator: Precisely. The Arts and Crafts movement championed handcraftsmanship, advocating for designs that were both beautiful and functional, accessible to the masses but not soullessly produced. The stylized floral motifs and geometric shapes also reflect Dresser’s interest in incorporating design principles from various cultures, including Japanese art, which was hugely influential at the time. Do you see that influence here? Editor: Now that you mention it, yes. The asymmetry and simplified forms have a Japanese aesthetic to them. Curator: Exactly. It shows the impact of global exchange on design at the time and the aspirations of figures such as Dresser who tried to define a new aesthetic sensibility by drawing from diverse sources and engaging with current debates around the role of art in industrialized society. Editor: I see. I thought it looked dated but it was actually pushing back against trends even then. Curator: Exactly. These design choices aren't merely aesthetic; they're statements about value and production in a changing world. Editor: That definitely reframes how I look at the drawing! It's less old-fashioned now, and more deliberately artistic and…political? Curator: Precisely! And it makes you wonder about how art continues to reflect broader social issues.