The Aesthetic Movement

The Aesthetic Movement, that swept England in the latter half of the 19th-century touched every aspect of the fine and decorative arts. The products of this movement are characterized by a simplicity of line, and a richness of surface and materials, but its coherence lies in the attitude of the mind of its exponents. Believing beauty should permeate every sphere of life, the aesthetes cry was "art for art's sake", and it is this lack of all moral and political overtones that separates the Aesthetic Movement from others of the 19th-century. This book traces the influences of the movement on the many manufacturers and designers working in Britain, Europe and the USA, discussing the philosophy of the movement alongside its style.