Blog Post 1

Graphic Design during the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Era:

Horse in Motion, 1883, Eadweard Muybridge

The Pencil of Nature, 1844, Henry Fox Talbot

Harper's Magazine, 1883, Richard G. Tietze

Trademark for Moss Engraving Company, 1872

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 1883, Howard Pyle

Arts and Crafts movement:

 Shelves, Alexander Roux Étagère

Chair, 1882, AH Mackmurdo

The Centruy Guild Hobby Horse, 1884, Sir Embry Walker

Plant Stand, 1903, Charles Rohlf

Cabbage and Vine Tapestry, 1879, William Morris

Contemporary Small Press/Slow Design Movement:

Hand and Soul, 1929, S.H. De Roos

The Sunset of Bon Echo, 1916, Flora Macdonald

Booklet Cover, 1911, Frederic W. Goudy

Centaur, 1915, Bruce Rogers

Farmers' Market, 2012, YeeHaw Industries

            The current small press movement is similar to Graphic Design during the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Era in that the fonts that are used are very similar, and in some cases the exact same letters that were used by past businesses. Small presses draw inspiration from these two eras, particularly the fonts, enjoying the intricate designs of the Victorian Era and the bold faces of the Industrial Revolution. Inventing new fonts created an exciting way to produce products in the 1800s and 1900s. These designs are appreciated by press businesses today, as well the method of printing, just like it was cherished during the two eras. Similar to the past though, this way of producing faces the possibility of becoming obsolete. A difference however would be that although the style that became popular during the 1800s and 1900s eventually grew out of favor, they grew out of favor after some time of being the desired style. The small press movement now is not nearly as popular.

            A similarity between the current small press movement and the Arts and Crafts movement is that the profit is made through consumers. One thing that differs about that though is that most of the consumers buying the products created in the Arts and Crafts movement tended to be wealthy whereas small presses today are able to create for everyone. Also, furniture appeared to be the general product of the Arts and Crafts movement while the main product of current small presses consists of mostly invitations, cards, posters and the like.

            Business is not as common as it used to be for small presses in the world today, although it is not impossible to acquire. The use of small printing is still needed in society, albeit small, due in large part to the technological advances over the centuries since it first began. However, these advances have made it possible to make printing easier in regards to creating multiple images and using a variety of different fonts, unlike the arduous and tedious work that went into creating the design during the Industrial Revolution, Victorian Era, and Arts and Crafts movement. What was once practical has become impractical. It is, however, an art to some: printing with moveable types and stamps. This art will continue to thrive as long as there are those willing to preserve the method.