The Victorian era consisted of a period in which people were constantly searching for their own style. We are talking about a time in which a feeling of confusion regarding aesthetics was continued, which led to various totally contradictory design styles. The Victorian style is a style that encompasses architecture, fashion, decoration and design and was in force during the reign of Victoria of Great Britain.
This style began as a set of confusions but little by little it left its mark in different parts of the world such as Great Britain.. It spread throughout the European continent, creating a trend among the different areas it reached. Do you want to know more about what this style consists of? What are the main characteristics of the Victorian style? Stay tuned, let's get started.
When does the beginning of the Victorian style arise?
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This style that we are talking about is a style that brings together various sectors such as architecture, fashion, literature and design, among others. The Victorian era marks its beginnings during the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria. as we have indicated at the beginning of the publication, since the end of the XNUMXth century.
During this Victorian period, The United Kingdom underwent an important transformation becoming one of the main economic powers due to the Industrial Revolution. A few years later, it managed to become a global empire with colonies spread out in different ways.
What characterizes the Victorian era?
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The Victorian era is characterized by different important moments such as those that we are going to name below.
This stage is characterized by undergoing a series of changes both economically and in the political sphere. These changes had a direct impact on the society of those times. This era we are talking about focused on customs, literature, arts, architecture, etc.
As we mentioned in the introduction, the Victorian era was a somewhat confusing time. This is because it they mixed optimism about industrialization, the development of cities, economic growth and the rise of the United Kingdom, with a feeling of nostalgia for reasons such as the depopulation of small towns, the loss of certain traditions and even the advance of new techniques to nature.
These contradictions of which we speak, are reflected in the history of this time when the Victorian double standard is mentioned. This is because there were certain norms at the time that sought a repression of sexuality, the pursuit of austerity and certain more somewhat puritanical values. What happened is that society did not share these ideas and moved away from them.
In the political realm, a new idea arises of allowing new sectors to participate, although women at this time were still relegated. Note that it was during this historical period that women began to fight for their rights.
Victorian society was divided between three well-defined groups.; The aristocracy who were those who owned most of the land. In addition to having great influence and representation in the political bodies of the time. The bourgeoisie, which was made up of investors and wealthy people thanks to the industry. And finally, low class which was made up of workers, peasants and people who did service work.
We already know small details about the Victorian era, we have known its origin and some of its main characteristics. But the time has come to discover what is behind the Victorian style, what it is, what it consists of, what its most outstanding characteristics are, etc.
What is the Victorian style?
The Victorian era was marked by a development in industrialization throughout the European continent. During this historical period, new styles began to appear in the field of architecture. For the middle classes of the time, this time was a time of prosperity. It was marked by the appearance of a new decorative style that was a symbol of wealth.
victorian architecture
In the style of architecture of this time, the queen of those times, Queen Victoria, had a lot of influence. this quickly spread throughout the world. This happened thanks to the different colonies that England had at that time.
The Victorian style of architecture is mainly characterized by make use of elements of the Gothic style and other styles of the Renaissance stage. A mixture of styles, which resulted in a new genre of design that can be seen in the homes of the time, both in public and private buildings.
One of the elements that is most related to the Victorian style is the ornamentation, since it can be found both on the facades of the buildings and in the interiors.. Both brick and ceramics are some of the main materials used for the construction of the facades, as well as the use of more than two colors.
If we look at the next time we see a series or movie about haunted houses, we will realize that in the vast majority of cases these buildings are Victorian in style. We will know how to differentiate it not only for these aspects that we have just mentioned, but also for the porch with a roof on the outside, the double doors or for its immense libraries.
Victorian style decoration
Currently, we do not usually see this type of decoration as often as it was at the time, since there are those who consider it excessive for their homes. But for those who are interested in knowing what the decoration of the time with this style consisted of, we give you a guide to give you an idea. A style for lovers of tradition, history, old objects and the excessive.
The colors that were used for this style were bright tones but in dark tones. Wood was used in interior constructions, both for furniture and for decorative objects. Colors like red, green, gold or brown are the classic colors that most accompanied this style.
victorian textiles
Something fundamental at this time and that we cannot stop talking about is the fabrics that made up the homes or decorations of this stage, something very important in this historical period. The textile industry developed rapidly thanks to the industrial movement that began in Europe. LThe fabrics that were used in Victorian-style textiles are velvet, in which flower patterns used to appear and that can be seen in different upholstery or curtains.
Also highlight the technique of embroidery as an activity of this time and thanks to it, the fabrics had a great importance.. The rooms that accompanied this type of textiles were wooden rooms with large and striking furniture. The vast majority of them were handmade by artisans of the time. Both the chairs and the armchairs that we can see in the Victorian era are of great beauty, due to the use of these upholsteries, but they could be somewhat heavy for it.
victorian luminosity
Another important aspect that we can highlight within Victorian decoration is the use of mirrors as a decorative element. They were used as a source of light, in addition to giving amplitude to the spaces where they were placed, the same functions as those of today.
If we go to another type of light elements, we have to talk about the chandeliers. These elements provided a sense of ostentation and elegance typical of the Victorian style that we are analyzing.
Popular graphics in the Victorian era
The Victorian era could be defined as a period of constant search for its own style. There was a constant confusion about aesthetics which led to different styles of design that were not even. During this stage of history, we can highlight different figures related to the world of arts and design.
As it can be for example, the architect Pugin who is named as the first designer of the XIX. Pugin, was commissioned to design the ornamental elements of the British parliament. Also, the figure of the printer and publicists Louis Prang can be highlighted. He was the promoter of the art world and was also involved in the use of printed images. Designer Owen Jones is also worthy of recognition. since, he is an authority in the world of color and very important in design.
These are some of the main figures that we could not fail to highlight in the development of this Victorian stage. The graphics of the time were reproduced thanks to the chromolithography technique. A revolution, which gave the possibility of being able to print thousands of copies full of color.
The graphics that we can see from this time became very popular due to the use of color, the shapes that made them up, the use of typographies, decorative elements, etc. The subsequent appearance of photography brought great changes in the art of this time.
These are just some facts about the Victorian style that were most popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. Some of them, as we have mentioned, went very far crossing borders and gaining popularity in these new areas. Due to its great influence and scope, the Victorian style in both architecture and decoration and design can be seen in different areas of the world, especially in its former colonies. We hope that you have learned something new and that you are interested in knowing or even visiting some of the areas where you can find this style.