Bellows c. 1940

Thomas Watts created this artwork, titled Bellows, using watercolor. This image encapsulates the socio-economic fabric of its time. It speaks to the cultural emphasis on craftsmanship and the decoration of everyday objects. During the late 19th century, the Arts and Crafts movement flourished, advocating for a return to traditional craftsmanship in response to industrialization. The visual codes in the image point to a desire to elevate functional items into objects of beauty. Produced in a period where class distinctions were pronounced, the artwork reflects the values and tastes of the Victorian middle class. The inclusion of decorative motifs, suggests a cultural aspiration towards refinement and aesthetic appreciation. In considering this work, we might examine the visual culture of late 19th-century Britain using design manuals and trade catalogs to reveal the ideologies embedded in the decoration of everyday objects. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.