From the middle of the 19th century onwards, the book market changed considerably due to the introduction of technical innovations. The high-speed press made circulation figures possible, which revolutionized people's reading habits in the long term. New printing techniques and the introduction of colour printing brought word and image together again. Book illustration developed into an independent art form. Literature reacted to the emergence of the mass market with new forms, such as the short story and serialised novel. Walter Crane first established himself as an illustrator on this mass market. His illustrations for children's book series, which came onto the market in Great Britain under the names "Six Penny Books" or "ToyBooks", reached circulation figures of 50,000 copies. Crane's aim was to create mass products with high-quality craftsmanship and artistry.
Crane's education was unconventional. After he left school after a few classes because it "got on his nerves", he was taught at home by his father. At the age of 13, he took up an apprenticeship as an illustrator. The basis of his craft shaped his view of art. Crane is regarded as one of the outstanding representatives of the British Arts and Craft movement, which wanted to reconcile craftsmanship and mass production. Crane thus also became a pioneer of Art Nouveau. Instead of returning to the traditional art forms that characterised historicism, the Arts and Craft movement focused on the development of an independent modern style.
Crane was committed to a new art education for broad sections of the population and published basic pedagogical literature. Crane not only created illustrations for books, but was also active in design. Here he created articles of daily use such as wallpaper, tiles, glassware or patterns for tablecloths. The Arts and Craft movement emphasized the reconciliation of art and everyday life in an industrial society. Crane's greatest influence, however, was through his book illustrations. © Meisterdrucke
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From the middle of the 19th century onwards, the book market changed considerably due to the introduction of technical innovations. The high-speed press made circulation figures possible, which revolutionized people's reading habits in the long term. New printing techniques and the introduction of colour printing brought word and image together again. Book illustration developed into an independent art form. Literature reacted to the emergence of the mass market with new forms, such as the short story and serialised novel. Walter Crane first established himself as an illustrator on this mass market. His illustrations for children's book series, which came onto the market in Great Britain under the names "Six Penny Books" or "ToyBooks", reached circulation figures of 50,000 copies. Crane's aim was to create mass products with high-quality craftsmanship and artistry.
Crane's education was unconventional. After he left school after a few classes because it "got on his nerves", he was taught at home by his father. At the age of 13, he took up an apprenticeship as an illustrator. The basis of his craft shaped his view of art. Crane is regarded as one of the outstanding representatives of the British Arts and Craft movement, which wanted to reconcile craftsmanship and mass production. Crane thus also became a pioneer of Art Nouveau. Instead of returning to the traditional art forms that characterised historicism, the Arts and Craft movement focused on the development of an independent modern style.
Crane was committed to a new art education for broad sections of the population and published basic pedagogical literature. Crane not only created illustrations for books, but was also active in design. Here he created articles of daily use such as wallpaper, tiles, glassware or patterns for tablecloths. The Arts and Craft movement emphasized the reconciliation of art and everyday life in an industrial society. Crane's greatest influence, however, was through his book illustrations. © Meisterdrucke
Page 1 / 6