Ideals in Art: Papers Theoretical, Practical, Critical

"Ideals in Art: Papers Theoretical, Practical, Critical" by Walter Crane is a compilation of essays from the turn of the century where Crane shares his insights as an artist and designer, exploring how art connects with the social issues and what was seen as beautiful in his world. Crane dives into subjects like the Arts and Crafts movement, ways of teaching art, and how art impacts society; his essays try to deepen readers' understanding of art and how it relates to everyday life. The start of the collection is of Walter Crane's reasons for discussing saving handicrafts and expands into art’s role in society. The text looks discusses how society, money, and daily life affect art and beauty, highlighting the need for real and honest art and design at a time that was dominated by factories. Crane thinks that we need to understand the history of art and what it is responsible for in society, which sets the stage for the rest of his essays.