Artists' Textiles 1940-1976: A Good Read - MidCentury - The guide to Modern furniture, Interiors and architecture

Artists’ Textiles 1940-1976

By Geoffrey Rayner, Richard Chamberlain and Annamarie Stapleton

While the contribution of textile designers like Ben Rose, Lucienne Day or Marian Mahler cannot be underestimated in making post-war textiles an art form, this title charts the involvement of leading fine artists with the design of industrially produced fabrics from the 1940s onwards. Many of these artists saw textiles as a way of democratising their work, bringing their art to the masses, and you’ll see that there are useful biographies of every relevant designer and manufacturer at the back of the book.

This is as comprehensive an account of these fruitful and sometimes surprising collaborations (Picasso ski-wear anyone?) as you could possibly wish for. From Nicholson to Hepworth, Matisse to Dali, Chagall through to Warhol, they’re all here. Although many of the repeat patterns can be easily attributed to the artists who created them, it is fascinating to see how each artist created designs to fit this mass-produced medium.  What makes this book so special is the extent and quality of the beautiful images within it; page after page of inspiring design with three gate-fold pull-out spreads. There are approximately 200 colour images, many of which have never been seen before. With informative and well-researched narration from Rayner, Chamberlain and Stapleton, this title is a must for anyone maintaining a well-stocked design library and would also make a worthwhile addition to any stylish coffee table.