Seattle Art Museum Exhibit Explores Nature and Self

As the weather grows warmer in Seattle, many find creative types find themselves looking to get back into the culture of their surroundings after being shut away for the winter. Leaning into the vibrancy of nature, as flowers and trees burst into life, we love to appreciate all things natural.

The Seattle Art Museum must have had the same idea, as their newest exhibit, “Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement” explores the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the lasting impact it had on art as we see it today.

Beginning June 13th, this vibrant and detailed exhibit features avant-garde works that Victorian art critics called “perverse” and “revolting”- modern audiences are less likely to be quite so offended. But why such a strong reaction from the critics of the time? 

Founded in 1848, the Pre-Raphaelites were a group of poets, painters, and other artists that felt confined by the artistic expectations of their time. In a society that they considered cheap and mass produced, they strove for meaningful ideas based on self reflection, and art created with nature at its source. This ideology continued to gain traction- despite the initial outrage- and has transformed into the arts and crafts movement, celebrating what we can imagine and create from within ourselves. 

Much of this gorgeous collection has previously only been seen in the Pre-Raphaelite exhibit located in Birmingham, United Kingdom; so skip the plane trip across the pond and come stay with us at Shafer Baillie Mansion, less than 15 minutes away from the Seattle Art Museum. If you’re really counting the minutes, Shafer Baillie also has tickets available for guests so they can skip the lines. This exhibit only lasts until September 8, 2019, so pack your suitcases and book your room before you head down to the Seattle Art Museum to reflect on this perfect summer collection.