"Tulip & Rose" curtain

The woven curtain fabric of heavy wool shows a complex pattern of stylised tulips and roses. The ornament does not appear to be two-dimensional, but has spatial depth. Fresh colours and natural vitality characterise the depicted plants. This distinguishes the design from other ornamental designs of the 19th century, which were mostly constructed one-dimensional and schematically. The fabric was designed by William Morris, who is considered the founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. In the 1850s, influenced by the publications of John Ruskin, he became a staunch opponent of industrialization. Morris, who later became a socialist, criticized the exploitation of people and the environment in the industrial society and instead wanted to revitalize the crafts.