OUGD404 - Millennium Galleries Sheffield - Eric Ravilious Exhibit

OUGD404 - Millennium Galleries Sheffield - Eric Ravilious Exhibit

Eric Ravilious has been labelled one of the most important British artists of the 20th Century, a selection of his work as well of that off some of his friends and collaborators was exhibited in the Millennium Galleries in Sheffield;

'Ravilious & Co: The Pattern of Friendship chronicles the personal and professional relationship between Ravilious and artists such as Paul Nash, John Nash, Enid Marx, Barnett Freedman, Tirzah Garwood, Edward Bawden, Thomas Hennell, Douglas Percy Bliss, Peggy Angus, Helen Binyon, and Diana Low.

Comprising over 400 paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, engravings, books, ceramics, wallpaper and textiles, the exhibition examines how this close-knit group deftly bridged the gap between fine art and design.'

Ravilious and some of his peers such as Barnett Freedman produced a lot of typographical work and a lot of book covers, some of which were exhibited. Their work is very typical of the era (30’s -40’s), with art deco arrangements of typography, simple illustrations and muted colours all produced by classic print methods. The style of design in this era is now defined by the restrictions in technology and methods of printing back then and having seen original designs utilising this style, examples of pastiches can clearly be identified in modern day design.

E.E. Cummings and Pablo Neruda were both active as poets in this era so perhaps aspects of these designs can be used as inspiration in the redesigning of their book covers. Although the covers should be contemporary and bespoke, elements such as grid systems or typography from these designs by Ravilious could be used as inspiration.