A Salute to Károly Kós

Text: Anthony Gall

As a highly complex and versatile movement, Arts and Crafts was closely associated with the evolution of modern industrial society and the appearance of new social strata. Improving living standards, combined with an insight into past and traditional (regional) environment, the appreciation of manual labour were all important constituents. The oeuvre of Károly Kós features all the distinguishing characteristics of Arts and Crafts, such as the ambition to improve society, regionalism, attachment to the past as well as the appreciation of manual labour now combined with modern tools. It is well worth paying attention to his messages and concepts as he was continuously active all throughout the epochal eras of the 20th century regarding both our place in society and our attitudes to the world.