Topic > William Morris and his influence on 19th century working conditions and artistic philosophy

During the industrial revolution, in the mid-19th century, several industries were developing, economic growth was impressive and a huge new world of city ​​was emerging. However, this had repercussions both on working conditions and people's morale, as well as on the arts and aesthetics. However, not all artists were affected by these external and massive changes. It was William Morris, a brilliant man, one of the most appreciated designers of the 19th century, who strove to change the world with beauty and believed that this could facilitate the working conditions of workers. The artist's main desire was to create beautiful things and express his own values ​​in creating them, as well as to combine art and work so that they could serve society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The history of the working classes in the 19th century began with the invention of a steam engine and textile machinery for raw materials. It is notable that these inventions stimulated the genesis of the Industrial Revolution, which changed the structure of life in middle-class society. The enormous expansion of industrial plants and their production forced the entire bourgeois society based in the cities to go to work in the factories. Not only were the working conditions harsh, but all workers were also required to work excessive hours. On average they worked six hours of overtime per week, some workers were left in factories to work on Sundays or even public holidays. The consequence was a poor quality of life for workers, who lost the joy of living and the joy of working. It is difficult to imagine what the workers themselves became in the given conditions, what kind of people they were, what their moral, physical and mental position was. As they lost the pleasure of living, all the work they did began to be ugly, not only because of perverse expansion but because of poor workmanship, low-quality materials, and the deprivation of all design power. Society suffered from the vast development of cities, which little by little merged with the cities of past times, when their work increased the charm of nature or at least was in ideal harmony and they marveled at it as a secret that they had lost . In fact, all this meant that society was tired of the ugliness of its time and dreamed of stepping back into the past as if for a change of scenery and platform. But initially this tiredness was completely unconscious. Men were not aware that the art of their time was saddened by a disease, they had no idea that the disease was social. Not everyone turned their backs on the suffering working class, some public figures understood and attempted to cure society's disease. . One of them was William Morris, a man who found happiness in every job he did. However detestable the world around him, he could surround himself with an earthly Paradise understood only by him and could enjoy all the happiness of work. He knew from personal experience that beauty is a sign of a happy job, while ugliness reveals an unhappy job. Morris heard the cry of unhappiness out there, so he put aside his happiness to rebel. His values, as socialists, were to make everyone believe that art is everyone's business, whether they are artists themselves or not, that joy should be evident in every product, and that work should not degrade workers. William Morris would not rest until he had tried to show other men the happiness they had.