Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius

by Nikolaus Pevsner

This is a book on artists and architects from Britain, USA and Europe and how the best remains today where laid by a small group of people who thought and taught as well as designed.

Genres: Design, Architecture, Art, Nonfiction, History, Art History, Photography

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1936

About the author

Sir Nikolaus Pevsner was one of the twentieth century's most learned and stimulating writers on art and architecture. He established his reputation with Pioneers of Modern Design, though he is probably best known for his celebrated series of guides, The Buildings of England, acknowledged as one of the great achievements of twentieth-century scholarship. He was also founding editor of The Pelican History of Art, the most comprehensive and scholarly history of art ever published in English.

Reviews

[Bertrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pevsner’s book is remarkable: it is short enough and well illustrated, which should make it an easy and accessible read for both the profane eager to find that the modern style did not appear, despite its claims, through divine revelation, but out of a tumultuous historical process, and to those more familiar with the subject, as Pevsner wide ranging knowledge of European and American architecture will have most likely something to teach them.
To this day few writers endeavour to cover both aspects of modernism, that is the technical one and the much more popular ‘cultural’ one: Pevsner adresses both with a certain brio, and unsurprisingly given its early publication, with fairly little secondary sources. He seems just as much at ease with the tracing of concrete and metal use in architecture back to the eighteenth century, as he is taking his reader from Arts & Crafts to Modernism, via Art Nouveau, synthesizing convincingly many aspects and influences, and especially emphasizing those liminal styles like Secession or the work of Hodler which exhibit what others might have deemed incompatibilities form and content. The one thing that could be found lacking is a more in depth look at the politics involved in the battle between historicism and modern style, and in particular on the peculiar ‘neither left nor right’ position of art nouveau. Then again surely the context might easily be blamed for Pevsner not lingering on such sensitive questions.
Last but not least, any lover of modernism will be delighted to read such a history written by a militantly unapologetic “defender of the faith.” Writing in the thirties, at a time where he could still claim with a straight face a status of pioneer for his historical endeavour, the author radiates a candid confidence in the principles of modernist design, in the ‘style of today’ as he likes to call it. Yet already, betraying the nostalgia and conservatism inherent in the grasp of modernism as coherent whole, he feels the need to scold the late comers such as Le Corbusier or Niemeyer, for their deviant, indulgent expressionism. His judgements and evaluations of schools and individuals are virtually reducible to one single scale: how close did their work brought design history to its final, rational and angular apotheosis. He concludes: “[A]rchitects as well as clients must know that today’s reality, exactly as that of 1914, can finds its complete expression only in the style created by the giants of that by now distant past.” In other words, this book is both a landmark for the writing of its history, and for modernism itself!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this before studying in Paris and it was a gorgeous read. It certainly opened my eyes to architecture that I would otherwise just walk past. I recommend this to students of art history and also to those who are about to travel to Western European cosmopolitan areas.

Read it with google handy to enhance your experience. Look up what you don't understand or recognize. Great resource!

[Nico Macdonald]

Exhibited as an influence in Terence Conran: The Way We Live Now.

[Topaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short easy read glossing over the key players from the 19th century who paid the foundation for modern architecture and design. There are many photos in color and black and white and is ideal for those just getting interested in the subject or grade school students.

The book is laid out chronologically with many names and structures named, but not all are shown. So some examples are described but there is not corresponding photo to show what the author is talking about.

The latest expanded edition has extra content at the end of each chapter highlighting the prominent names of individual and movements they are significant, almost like a summary for the reader and highlighting names for further reading.

Overall, this is a good book and most importantly, provides many names for further reading. There is a bibliography and just my looking up any of the names, one can find more books for further reading.

For the enthusiast or professional in the field of architecture or design, this is not really an important reference book to have. There are many copies of this book available for under $10 including the hardcover edition. I would probably get it from the library rather than buy it.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've recently gained a new level of appreciation for William Morris and found a reference to this book in a bibliography. What a great find! This is considered a classic work, and in the 2005 addition is complemented by commentary from Richard Weston. I am clearly a novice in architecture and art, but I could follow the argumentation and learned from the wealth of exemplary photographs and art designs. Give it a try if you have a high comfort level with academic writing.

[Jack Theaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracking the wave of pre-war modernism in architecture and design, Nikolaus Pevsner geniusly clears a logical pathway from William Morris to the Bauhaus movement.

Throughout there is a technological determinism, he understands the economic base and its role in stifling or promoting artistic development, all along grappling with one of the most troubling questions of modernity and post-modernity: how do we dominate machines that are so far advanced from our human capabilities?

[Daniel Carrol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the perhaps not obvious through-line from the Arts & Crafts movement to Modernism in the early part of the 20th century, sent me searching for more info on some of the artists, architects and buildings discussed within

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pevsner eloquently ties together architectural, artistic, social and industrial developments of the mid 19th century to trace a clear map of design movements that culminates in 20th century Modernism.

[Zachary Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an informative read on the, often seen as, awkward and chaotic period proceeding the international style and modernism as we know it. While it goes a long way in smoothing out the path from revival to modernism, his writing often drags on and lacks passion making it rather dull.

[Justin Evans]

Clearly, I read this in a haze. I don't remember it at all.

[Brian Kovesci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always good to brush up on historical references.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may be reading this for class, but I like it enough to put it on here. It's an interesting take on art history, not a textbook.

Edit: This is pretty much all you need if you're interested in modern design. I don't always necessary agree with him but he has a certain way of putting things that is pretty endearing. I wish he was still alive just so I could see what he'd write about postmodernism. Actually, he'd probably have a heart attack about it.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book read for class that I likely would not have chosen, I ended up enjoying this one more than most. The arc of its argument seemed easier to understand than most, looking at how the arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau came together with other ideas to create modernism, all from an English perspective. Additionally, the book piqued my interest due to the subject matter of two movements that I

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars is generous for this wordy and poorly illustrated book that has a poor chronology. It is annoying when the author talks about items extensively that are not illustrated or with illustrations that lack scope.
The subject is great. I am a big fan of Morris, Wright and Klimt, to name a few, but I will try another text to get a better understanding of what lead up to the modern movement.
Don't waste your time or money on this one.

[Ralph Zoontjens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book treating developments around architecture and design during the 19th and early 20th century, up to early modernity. This has been the most important period for shaping the future of our mass-manufactured world, where we are now slowly climbing out of, entering the 3rd Industrial Revolution.

[Zaiga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1936, and the copy I'm reading was revised and rewritten in 1960. I love reading about modern design's beginnings from someone who is living in that era. :)

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A classic, but very dated and heavy-handed.

[David Mortimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful introduction to modern design. Not brilliantly written but still fascinating and informative.

[Vanlilith · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Stella Mill]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W...

[lisaggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interessante, spiegato in maniera semplice.

[Aras · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://electric-pages.livejournal.com...