International Arts & Crafts - In Conversation with Julia Griffin

Beauty and the Beast by John Dickson Batten

Though it may conjure images of the Liberty Print, Arts & Crafts was an ethos, and not just a style. Originating in 19th-century Britain, it became an international phenomenon and extended to Europe, America and Japan, and encompassed everything from painting to woodworking to architecture and stained glass. Gustav Klimt and the Vienna Secession drew direct inspiration from it, as did Frank Lloyd Wright in the US. In my latest conversation for Five Books, Julia Griffin, who has examined its impact in Poland, tells us how Arts and Crafts advanced notions of national identity. Moreover, it has important lessons for us today. “If I was to explain William Morris’s design and social philosophy to a child, I would probably say that everyone – irrespective of their financial or social status – deserves to derive pleasure and fulfilment from useful and creative work, and live in a beautiful home. Looking at our current times, I believe these are real preoccupations and urgent needs, and reimagining Morris’s ideals may suggest some universally applicable solutions for providing people with the basis for a good life.” Read more here: https://fivebooks.com/best-books/arts-and-crafts-julia-griffin/