Morris, William (1834 - 1896)

English painter, craftsman, architect, writer and poet, leading figure and theoretician of the English Arts and Crafts Movement. He spoke out against the declining artistic merit of products, which he saw as a consequence of industrialization and mass production. His aim was to restore the artistic quality imparted by traditional craftsmanship. He founded his own workshop, Morris & Co., in 1875, for which he designed woven and printed fabrics, embroideries, wallpaper, tapestries, carpets and stained glass. At the same time, he also created stained glasses further illustrated and bound books. His block- printed cotton fabrics, velvets, hand-woven fabrics and knotted carpets were famous throughout Europe. His work had a great impact on the entire artistic development of the European continent around 1900.