A woman who has devoted her whole life to design – Eileen Gray

Eileen Gray was born into an aristocratic family in Ireland in 1878. She spent part of her childhood and youth in her father’s Irish estate and the other part in her mother’s hometown London, England. She was one of the first women to study at the Slade. Her father, James McLaren Smith, was a landscape painter. Eileen Gray benefited greatly from her father’s artistic enlightenment. Eileen Gray came into contact with many oriental art during her four years of study at Slade School of Fine Arts. In 1900, Irene Gray followed her mother to visit the World Expo In Paris, France, and the Eiffel Tower just finished its first anniversary. Eileen Gray was moved by foreign customs and the local cultural environment in France. Gray moved to Paris in 1907, and spent the rest of her life there.

During Eileen Gray’s schooling, she was obsessed with oriental lacquer painting art. Eileen Gray uses skilled lacquer skills in furniture and interior decoration. Including painted screens, lamps, mirrors, paint basins and other handicrafts and wooden furniture. The Bibendum armchair, designed by Gray in 1929, can be regarded as a classic and one of the most famous furniture designs of the 20th century. The E-1027 table designed by Eileen Gray is simple and generous. Another important practical function in this table is that the height between the table top and the legs can be adjusted. At that time, this table had already met the requirements of ergonomics. It is not difficult to see the delicacy of Eileen Gray as a female designer. In the field of furniture and interior decoration, she has been recognized by all. But she did not stop, but got involved in the construction industry when she was nearly 50 years old. In architectural design, Gray emphasized modernist style. Eileen Gray believes that “Simple is progress”, which coincides with the idea of “Less is more” put forward by one of the greatest architects in the 20th century.

After the mid-19th century, with the upsurge of feminist movement in Britain, some women began to get involved in the professional field. Eileen Gray is one of the female designers. However, the Great Depression in Europe in the 19th century did not improve the opportunities for women to work, and the feminist movement did not achieve a complete victory. As a result, the abilities of women at that time were ultimately not recognized by society. Eileen Gray’s accomplishments in the design world can only be attached to the male aura. Eileen Gray has never been married, and devoted her whole life to design. But it was not until the 1970s that her talent was recognized by the design world. In particular, her attainments in lacquer art, furniture and interior decoration reflect women’s unique exquisiteness and delicacy. In her artistic career, she never stopped her artistic exploration. Gray continues to expand his artistic field, realizing the crossover from lacquer art to furniture to interior to architecture. To promote the design development of that era with elegant and exquisite works. Eileen Gray is considered to be the greatest female designer of the 20th century.

Bibliography:

Eileengray.co.uk. n.d. ARAM | Eileen Gray. [online] Available at: <http://www.eileengray.co.uk/> [Accessed 13 October 2020].

Doyle, M., n.d. Eileen Gray: An Architect And Designer You Should Know | Blog | Royal Academy Of Arts. [online] Royalacademy.org.uk. Available at: <https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/eileen-gray-architect-designer> [Accessed 13 October 2020].

Sayer, J., 2018. The Sordid Saga Of Eileen Gray’s Iconic E-1027 House. [online] Metropolis. Available at: <https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/e1027-villa-eileen-gray-crowdfund-preservation/> [Accessed 13 October 2020].