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Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1909

  • Work on this object began.

1970

2019

2025

  • You found it!

The Bases Of Design

This is a The Bases of Design. It was written by Walter Crane and published by G. Bell and Sons.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Botanical Expressions.

It is dated 1909. Its medium is lithograph on paper. It is a part of the department.

In the introduction of his treatise The Bases of Design, Crane characterizes design as a "living tree" with "vital veins and nerves … springing from connected and collective roots." This analogy is represented in the cover image, in which the tree of design grows from root-words including, "symbolic," "architectural," "graphic," and "collective." Crane advises readers that, "it is most important to keep in mind the real fundamental connection and essential unity of art."

It is credited Smithsonian Libraries, NK1510 .C89.

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 19.7 × 13.7 cm (7 3/4 × 5 3/8 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Botanical Expressions.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318798707/ |title=The Bases Of Design |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=23 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>