Wandle

1884·Indigo discharge block printed cotton·111.1 × 92.4 cm (43 3/4 × 36 3/8 in.)

<p>All of the printed textiles named after rivers were large-scale patterns that required at least 30 separate, carved wood blocks to complete. Morris described this pattern to his older daughter Jenny, explaining that “it will have to be very elaborate & splendid” and that he was naming it after the River Wandle “to honour our helpful stream.”</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1884
Medium: Indigo discharge block printed cotton
Dimensions: 111.1 × 92.4 cm (43 3/4 × 36 3/8 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: William Morris

Artist

William Morris

Painting

William Morris was an English textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement. He was a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production. His literary contributions helped to establish the modern fantasy genre, while he campaigned for socialism in fin de siècle Great Britain.

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