DOI Heft:
No. 226 (January 1912)
DOI Artikel:Schanzer, Hedwig: The teaching of design at the Prague arts and crafts school
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21155#0300
The Prague Arts and Crafts School
nature, and the free exercise of the individualities at this moment exercising great influence on
of teacher and pupil. By studying the diversity of the national industries as the Inspector of the
natural forms the sense of colour and the principles Czech textile schools in Bohemia and ;Moravia,
of construction are strongly developed. By certain and under his guidance as artistic director the
exercises the pupil attains a quick perception and a well-known Chamotte-manufacture in Rakonitz has
wonderful facility of expression, a natural obedience developed from small beginnings till it is now an
of the hand to the mind, which must be by no establishment of world-wide fame. Besides which
means confused with the automatic dexterity a good many workshops carry out his designs. Of
fostered under the old system. It is indeed a the greatest importance, however, is his activity
much-disputed point whether rapidity as well as as teacher in the Prague Arts and Crafts School,
correctness of perception is essential to successful where he is training capable recruits for the
achievement, but it is clear that exercises which modern art industry.
realise something like a union of hand and thought The designs which we illustrate here are for
must foster the gift of invention, and keep fresh the most part taken from the school for female
the fountain of imagination. students and the evening courses. In the former,
In the new method the spirit is everything, the in addition to the ordinary girl students, " hos-
form is nothing. Strictly speaking there is no pitants" also attend. The evening courses' are
method, or at least it is in the
early stages of development.
Every teacher is allowed to pro-
ceed by his own mode of instruc-
tion. Only the final aim is the
same. The ways which lead to
it are often essentially different,
and the teacher is appreciated
only by the success he attains.
A few examples of designing
from plant forms—Stylisicrung, as
it is called in German schools—
and how it is taught at the Pragr,
Arts and Crafts School in the
department of Professor Jan Benes
justify this point of view. The
method which we shall endeavour
to explain here is extremely clear
in its application, and plain in its
deduction; perhaps not entirely
artistic in its scantiness of means,
but highly artistic in its results.
Professor Benes is no academi-
cian, but a practical artist and
teacher who has evolved his own
way of ornamentation by his in-
tuitive ability to perceive the fine
things that nature reveals to him,
and by an instinctive understand-
ing of the spirit of the age. He
has found his own way of develop-
ing an ornament(from plant form
which accounts thoroughly for the
new style ; and he introduced it at
the Prague Arts and Crafts School
long before it had become
officially countenanced. He is design for majilica (mimoja and swallow) by emil sebesta
278
nature, and the free exercise of the individualities at this moment exercising great influence on
of teacher and pupil. By studying the diversity of the national industries as the Inspector of the
natural forms the sense of colour and the principles Czech textile schools in Bohemia and ;Moravia,
of construction are strongly developed. By certain and under his guidance as artistic director the
exercises the pupil attains a quick perception and a well-known Chamotte-manufacture in Rakonitz has
wonderful facility of expression, a natural obedience developed from small beginnings till it is now an
of the hand to the mind, which must be by no establishment of world-wide fame. Besides which
means confused with the automatic dexterity a good many workshops carry out his designs. Of
fostered under the old system. It is indeed a the greatest importance, however, is his activity
much-disputed point whether rapidity as well as as teacher in the Prague Arts and Crafts School,
correctness of perception is essential to successful where he is training capable recruits for the
achievement, but it is clear that exercises which modern art industry.
realise something like a union of hand and thought The designs which we illustrate here are for
must foster the gift of invention, and keep fresh the most part taken from the school for female
the fountain of imagination. students and the evening courses. In the former,
In the new method the spirit is everything, the in addition to the ordinary girl students, " hos-
form is nothing. Strictly speaking there is no pitants" also attend. The evening courses' are
method, or at least it is in the
early stages of development.
Every teacher is allowed to pro-
ceed by his own mode of instruc-
tion. Only the final aim is the
same. The ways which lead to
it are often essentially different,
and the teacher is appreciated
only by the success he attains.
A few examples of designing
from plant forms—Stylisicrung, as
it is called in German schools—
and how it is taught at the Pragr,
Arts and Crafts School in the
department of Professor Jan Benes
justify this point of view. The
method which we shall endeavour
to explain here is extremely clear
in its application, and plain in its
deduction; perhaps not entirely
artistic in its scantiness of means,
but highly artistic in its results.
Professor Benes is no academi-
cian, but a practical artist and
teacher who has evolved his own
way of ornamentation by his in-
tuitive ability to perceive the fine
things that nature reveals to him,
and by an instinctive understand-
ing of the spirit of the age. He
has found his own way of develop-
ing an ornament(from plant form
which accounts thoroughly for the
new style ; and he introduced it at
the Prague Arts and Crafts School
long before it had become
officially countenanced. He is design for majilica (mimoja and swallow) by emil sebesta
278