Moresque No.3 1856

Owen Jones, in this chromolithograph plate Moresque No.3, presents a set of Moorish designs. Jones was a British architect and designer, deeply interested in the decorative arts of various cultures. Here, he offers us an array of patterns derived from Islamic art. Made during a time of growing British imperial power, Jones’s work reflects a wider European fascination with non-Western aesthetics. However, it's worth considering the power dynamics at play. How does the act of extracting and re-presenting these designs shape our understanding of their original cultural context? Were these patterns used to decorate public buildings? What would have been the role of the craftsman in the making of the original patterns? To better understand Jones’s project, one could consult archival materials, design history publications, and studies of Orientalism. This enables us to explore the complex interplay between artistic inspiration, cultural appropriation, and the social history of design.