International studio (45.1912)

Austrian Schools for Weaving


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IIGS. 13 18. TEXTILE DESIGNS BY A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL
FOR WEAVING, MAHRISCH-SCHONBERG

set the example, which
was followed everywhere,
and, what is more, found
sympathy in the authori-
ties, who were not slow
to gauge its significance.
The general method en-
joined now is to seek
inspiration in Mother
Earth, who is so lavish in
her gifts, and it certainly
gives the pupils a broader
outlook on life and raises
the moral standard.
The first seven of the
accompanying illustra-
tions will give some idea
of the methods followed
in these schools. They
are all the work of first-
year scholars, and with
one exception emanate
from provincial schools.
After having learnt to
draw the plants from
nature, the next step is to
adapt the drawing to
decorative purposes. The
method of procedure can
be traced from the illus-
trations. Take, for in-
stance, Fig. 2., the drawing
of shells and the applica-
tion of nature’s ornament
to design, or the various
plants which have under-
gone decorative treatment
in other of the designs
reproduced. These
decorations must be ap-
plied both vertically and
horizontally, beginning
with the most simple forms
and gradually increasing
in intricacy, but through'
out all overloading with
undue ornament is care-
fully avoided. The main
idea is never lost sight of,
that is, the eventual ap-
plication of the design to
weaving. In the practical
part of his training the
student becomes familiar

135