Walter Crane
(1845–)
(–1915)
Walter Crane
1845–1915
Walter Crane (1845–1915) was born on August 15, 1845, in Liverpool, England, and died on March 14, 1915, in Horsham, England. He was an English artist and book illustrator known mainly for his illustrations in children’s books and his depictions of the Faerie Queen. He also created designs for wallpaper, ceramic tiles, and other housing decorations. He viewed art as a transformative tool for society, especially within the bounds of the Socialist movement.
Crane came from a family of artists. His father, Thomas Crane, worked in portraits and miniature paintings, and his brother, also named Thomas, was an illustrator. Crane kept up with contemporary artistic styles and movements. He eventually joined the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and helped lead both the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements alongside artist William Morris.
Influence for his artwork came from a wide variety of sources, some of the most notable being the Parthenon Marbles, Japanese prints, and the art of the Italian Renaissance. He was also inspired by the works of the Pre-Raphaelites he met while an apprentice to wood-engraver William James Linton, such as Sir John Tenniel, the illustrator of Alice in Wonderland. Crane's book illustrations utilized motifs of children in gardens and were often created for fairy tales, alphabet books, and fables. In an attempt to break away from his overbearing association with illustration, Crane tried his hand at painting, however, his paintings did not achieve as much notoriety as his illustrations.
Crane sympathized with the Socialist movement and used his art to promote Socialism. He created weekly cartoons that were published in many Socialist papers and submitted works to libertarian publishers such as Liberty Press and Freedom Press. He also designed “The Bomb Shop” storefront, a bookshop that focused on radical left-wing publications. Crane visited the United States in 1891 to see an exhibition of his work, and while he was there, he attended an anarchist meeting in Boston. In 1887, he was criticized for his actions and his support of the four Chicago anarchists that were executed due to the Haymarket affair.