DOI issue:
No. 177 (November, 1911)
DOI article:Price, C. Matlack: A guild of designers: the work of Carlton illustrators
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43448#0367
A Guild of Designers
A GUILD OF DESIGNERS :
THE WORK OF CARLTON
ILLUSTRATORS
k BY C. MATLACK PRICE
It is ordinarily supposed that the craft guilds
of the Middle Ages find their counterpart today
only in trade unions composed of artisans. An
organization, however, founded nearly seven years
ago in London, but new to this country, has struck
a note as different from the idea of a “ union ” as it
is significant in itself—an organization more closely
resembling the old “guild” than any combination
of later days has ever approached. “ Carlton Illus-
trators,” as it is called, consists of a group of art-
ists who have proved that under a centralized busi-
ness management their output, both individual
and collective, can possess greater significance in
its place in the development of printed art.
While a union is an organization defensive, to
protect members from outside competition, the
guild is an organization progressive, formed to
increase rather than to confine the individual ca-
pacities and activities of its members.
Here let the joint discussion cease, for the en-
tire dissimilarity of Carlton Illustrators to any
cut-and-dried business combination is its most
salient feature, which is graphically shown by the
“THE PIRATE MUTINY” BY F. GARDNER
AN ILLUSTRATION
A PASTORAL SKETCH
BY J. T. FRIEDENSEN
remarkable and admirable individuality of its
varied products.
The members work quite independently of each
other, occupying, however, adjoining studios, with
the idea that each member can reach a higher
standard of achievement by working in a common
direction with men of similar ambition, each re-
lieved of distracting details detrimental to con-
centrated effort on productive work by a capable
business management designed for their several
and collective interests.
The members have been chosen as men distin-
guished each in his own special line, with the idea
that it is only by emphasizing and encouraging a
designer’s natural inclinations that individuality
may be obtained and impersonal “sameness” be
eliminated.
Thus in the entire artistic production of a book
the guild may assign to its various members the
design of the cover, the composition of the title
page, and the illustrations, initials and incidental
decorations occurring through its pages. And
each of these particulars, or, if advisable, all, may
be given to the designer capable of treating them
the most adequately.
Some characterizations of the personnel of Carl-
ton Illustrators in this country will show the scope
and worth of their productive ability.
XI
A GUILD OF DESIGNERS :
THE WORK OF CARLTON
ILLUSTRATORS
k BY C. MATLACK PRICE
It is ordinarily supposed that the craft guilds
of the Middle Ages find their counterpart today
only in trade unions composed of artisans. An
organization, however, founded nearly seven years
ago in London, but new to this country, has struck
a note as different from the idea of a “ union ” as it
is significant in itself—an organization more closely
resembling the old “guild” than any combination
of later days has ever approached. “ Carlton Illus-
trators,” as it is called, consists of a group of art-
ists who have proved that under a centralized busi-
ness management their output, both individual
and collective, can possess greater significance in
its place in the development of printed art.
While a union is an organization defensive, to
protect members from outside competition, the
guild is an organization progressive, formed to
increase rather than to confine the individual ca-
pacities and activities of its members.
Here let the joint discussion cease, for the en-
tire dissimilarity of Carlton Illustrators to any
cut-and-dried business combination is its most
salient feature, which is graphically shown by the
“THE PIRATE MUTINY” BY F. GARDNER
AN ILLUSTRATION
A PASTORAL SKETCH
BY J. T. FRIEDENSEN
remarkable and admirable individuality of its
varied products.
The members work quite independently of each
other, occupying, however, adjoining studios, with
the idea that each member can reach a higher
standard of achievement by working in a common
direction with men of similar ambition, each re-
lieved of distracting details detrimental to con-
centrated effort on productive work by a capable
business management designed for their several
and collective interests.
The members have been chosen as men distin-
guished each in his own special line, with the idea
that it is only by emphasizing and encouraging a
designer’s natural inclinations that individuality
may be obtained and impersonal “sameness” be
eliminated.
Thus in the entire artistic production of a book
the guild may assign to its various members the
design of the cover, the composition of the title
page, and the illustrations, initials and incidental
decorations occurring through its pages. And
each of these particulars, or, if advisable, all, may
be given to the designer capable of treating them
the most adequately.
Some characterizations of the personnel of Carl-
ton Illustrators in this country will show the scope
and worth of their productive ability.
XI