The Design Reformation in Europe, 1845–1915: Selections from the Museum’s Collection

The Design Reformation in Europe explores the design industry and its changing relationship to European artists, manufacturers, and consumers during the 19th century.

New production methods arising from the Industrial Revolution led to a debate on the relationship between design and industry. Artists and designers grappled with the modern world, ultimately reforming the very nature of design. This exhibition addresses the shifts in philosophy through selections of furniture, metalwork, ceramics, wallpaper, and other decorative arts from the MFAH collections.

Designers and theorists began to emphasize the importance of and pleasure in the very act of making things. Arts and Crafts designs relied on simple forms, ornament derived from nature, and familiar traditions and techniques. The Design Reformation in Europe addresses these ideas and their influence over artists in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, and throughout the continent.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.