Archetypes Pre-1900 / 100 or More Years Later

This is an assignment I completed this past week for my class on the history of graphic design. It was all about searching for pieces from before 1900 that were used as models for more current designs. I had a fun, loooong search for my archetypes. I became knee deep in many beautiful designs and artists that I have never heard of! Art is a vast and beautiful gift that we have been blessed to experience!

ar·che·type [ahr-ki-tahyp]—noun: the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype.

1. Archetype Pre-1900 / 100 or More Years Later
Unknown / The Legends
Pre-19th Century / 2005
Unknown / Joakim Jansson



2. Archetype Pre-1900 / 100 or More Years Later
St. James / SWAY—Olive
1881 / 2008
William Morris / Heather Bailey


3. Archetype Pre-1900 / 100 or More Years Later
Criblé initials / Initial Block 4.5”
1524 / 2009
Geoffroy Tory / Well of Words Decorative Vinyl Lettering



4. Archetype Pre-1900 / 100 or More Years Later
Guillot Borthers Sterilized Milk / Life is Just a Chair of Bowlies
1897 / 1998
Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen / Mary Engelbreight



5. Archetype Pre-1900 / 100 or More Years Later
Monaco Monte Carlo / The Princess of Quite a lot
1897 / 1998
Alphonse Mucha / Mary Engelbreight


Knee deep in archetypes and Google search,
-Liz