Window c. 1913

William Gray Purcell made this window from leaded glass, and other materials. Although undated, it typifies the Prairie School style, which emerged in the American Midwest around the turn of the twentieth century. The Prairie School was deeply invested in the Arts and Crafts movement, opposing industrialization’s destruction of craft skills and exploitation of labor. The movement promoted a return to simpler times when hand craftsmanship was valued, not mass production. Note the straight lines, geometric shapes, and natural motifs of this piece which rejects the ornate designs of the Victorian era. The flat, two-dimensional design emphasizes structure. Purcell was a key figure. Through his architectural practice and writings he promoted democratic ideals and organic architecture, integrating buildings with the landscape. Such ideas promoted the role of the architect as a social reformer. Art historians consult journals, architectural plans, and period publications to understand the movement’s values and impacts on art and society.