William Morris' Designs As Art Forms

William Morris’ exceptional use of art to portray himself and his beliefs is reflected in his quote ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” The nature of Morris’ designs embodies this notion and carries the ability to remain popular and desirable as a timeless piece. These works include the Strawberry Thief (1883), The Woodpecker tapestry (1885)

William Morris, a designer, born in Walthamstow, United Kingdom on the Born on the 24 March 1834 is a famed designer and activist of art. Morris is a boundless artist who over the course of his career used a wide range of different mediums. He specialised in interior design such as tapestry, textiles, books, wallpapers and more. Morris is renowned for his ability to portray himself and his beliefs through art. We see his political and social views being depicted in many of his works particularly his rage against the injustice of communism. Morris at particularly a young age showed disproval for renaissance style art for its tackiness and unappealing nature. He became a man who flourished and thrived in household arts that were useful or beautiful. Here we see how his quote directly references himself and his art.

Strawberry Thief (1883) is a furnishing fabric made up by Indigo-discharged and block-printed cotton. A particularly difficult and ancient method, which Morris mastered on this print in later years. This fabric is one of Morris’ most famous designs and its prominence today in interior decoration is significant. The piece is about the thrush birds that frequented Williams childhood home to steal strawberries from the garden. Here he wields a narrative of sorts engaging viewers and creating this unique interest by painting these birds as a of comical villain. This composition most likely intended for curtain fabric embodies and addresses Morris’ earlier quote where we see this balanced of beauty and utility, often attributed to him.

The Woodpecker tapestry (1885) is a tapestry adorned with a pattern and some wording on top and below the design. The lettering features and excerpt of one of Morris’ own poems, reading;’I once a king and chief/ now am the tree bar’s thief/ ever twixt trunk and leaf/ chasing the prey”. This is a quote that implies Morris’ socialist view about hierarchal ideals and effectively ties in the idea of William Morris being able to portray himself and his beliefs through art. The origins of this piece has been linked back to a piece of roman mythology where we see Morris’ affinity with an old or outdated style of art, this is further emphasised through his use of medium, tapestry an unlikely choice. Hours upon hours of practise and refinement was put into Morris’ weaving skills which later made it in to the big factories where it was produced at larger scale marking his success. This piece also evokes interest while remaining a lighthearted interior adornment. In analysing the woodpecker tapestry we explore the notion of beauty in the house which this piece represents.