Henry Moore Textiles
Published on 28. October 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-84822-052-2 (ISBN)
Description
Widely hailed as a revelation and as a beautiful creation in its own right when first published in hardback, Henry Moore Textiles is now available in a handsome paperback edition.Moore's numerous designs for textiles, only a few of which reached production, have until recently remained virtually unknown. Yet these compositions reveal many illuminating aspects of his work and are intricately connected to his aims, particularly as a Socialist who believed that art could function as an intrinsic part of daily life, stimulating a new approach to living through contemporary design and materials. Motifs such as barbed wire or twisted safety pins give his designs a distinctive hard edge, while enigmatic motifs such as clock hands harken back to Moore's pre-war experiments that mediate between the camps of the Surrealists and Expressionists. Vibrant and sometimes dizzyingly intertwining streaks of colour anticipate the gestural freedom of Abstract Expressionism, and question the pre-conceived notion that Moore was somehow divorced in his aesthetic pursuits from his contemporaries in the avant-garde. Moore once said that colour for him was 'a bit of a holiday', and his work in textiles gave him unrestrained freedom within which to experiment in this sphere.This book surveys and interprets Moore's fabrics, printed in numerous colourways, for scarves, dress and upholstery fabrics as well as large-scale wall panels. Also illustrated are nineteen designs for textiles discovered as recently as 2006, alongside many others reproduced in their true and vibrant colours as never before. It is hoped that the publication will foster a hitherto neglected aspect of the artist's work and encourage others to bring to light further designs and colourways.
Reviews / Votes
'From the outset, it has to be said that this is an especially attractive book, with beautifully composed photographs of the textiles by Matt Pia, and evocative interiors of the Moore's house Hoglands photographed by Michael Phipps.' www.artnewsletter.com 'This spectacular new work reveals a relatively unknown facet of renowned sculptor Henry Moore's creations. These previously unpublished designs formulate the core of his exploration into textiles in 1943 at the request of Zika Ascher, a Czech textile manufacturer. The result was four sketchbooks filled with utilitarian designs for a postwar fashion industry. The textile patterns focus on basic designs, dress and upholstery fabrics, and decorative wall panels. Following a preface by David Mitchinson (head of collections & exhibitions, Henry Moore Fdn.), there is an introductory essay on British textile design by Sue Prichard, textile curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The last and most important portion of the book, compiled and organized by Feldman (curator, Henry Moore Fdn.), features the rich illustrations of Moore's unique designs, ranging from patterns of barbed wire and pianos to reclining figures and heads. This new area of Moore's artistic talents is a refreshing discovery. Highly recommended.' Library Journal 'This book is a revelation' American Craft Magazine 2008 'The illustrations in the book are excellent' Arlis 2008 'The photographs of his stunning designs give a wonderful introduction to Moore's textiles. This is a beautiful book - a great inspiration' The International Journal of the Guild of Silk Painters 2008 'a handsome volume.' Church Times 2008 'the book is a beautiful creation itself ... a fascinating account of the partnership that developed between Moore and Zika Ascher, the Czech textile manufacturer who had settled in London in 1939 and recognised the possibility of using Moore's drawings as designs for textiles.' Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers 2008 '...This lavishly illustrated monograph brings to light a largely unknown aspect of his work--his textile designs. Contributors present a comprehensive survey and interpretation of those designs...The book features hundreds of color images of Moore's textiles and never-before-seen sketches...Recommended.' Choice 'This publication is dominated by excellent photography ... The textiles are allowed to speak for themselves, as image after image shows us every known colourway of every design.' Textile HistoryMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Includes 188 colour and 26 b&w illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 305 mm
Width: 245 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
973 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84822-052-2 (9781848220522)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Anita Feldman is curator of the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire. Sue Prichard is a curator of textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.
Content
Contents: Preface, David Mitchinson; Introduction: British Textile Design: The Quest for a New Aesthetic, Sue Prichard; Henry Moore Textiles: Designs; Squares; Dress and Upholstery Fabrics; Wall Panels, Anita Feldman; Related publications; Photographic credits