Windrush Possibly 1883 - 1925

This is "Windrush" by William Morris. It's a printed textile made in England, and looking at it makes me think about the handmade, even though it was mechanically reproduced. The surface of the work is so carefully calibrated, so precisely tooled. But it's all a bit of a trick. It’s easy to get lost in the overall effect, to be seduced by the lushness of the green. But if you look closely, you can see that each leaf and flower is built up from tiny, almost imperceptible marks. The shapes are built from repetition, a rhythm that is both soothing and a little unsettling. Morris was so influential. You see his work echoed in so many places, from art nouveau to 60s psychedelia, to contemporary graphic design. It makes you think about how images are made, unmade and remade across time.