Larkspur 1867 - 1877

William Morris created this ‘Larkspur’ wallpaper design during the late 19th century, amidst the burgeoning Arts and Crafts movement in England. Morris, deeply critical of industrialization, sought to return to traditional craftsmanship, emphasizing beauty and the dignity of labor. This wallpaper, with its stylized botanical motifs, evokes a sense of pre-industrial harmony. Yet, it also speaks to the complexities of Victorian society. As a privileged man, Morris’s vision of craftsmanship was often at odds with the lived experiences of the working class. His designs, while celebrating nature, were consumed by a wealthy elite. “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,” he once declared, a sentiment that underscores the entwined values of utility and aesthetics. Consider how ‘Larkspur’ simultaneously embodies a critique of industrial society and reflects the class dynamics of its time, reminding us that beauty is often entangled with questions of access and social equity.