Henry Moore Textiles is the first publication on this relatively unknown aspect of Moore's work. Much of the material, including many recently discovered textile designs, has never been published before. At the instigation of Czech textile guru Zika Ascher, in 1943 Moore began filling four notebooks with drawings for textiles. Other designs followed in the early 1950s, commissioned by David Whitehead Fabrics following the Festival of Britain. Moore's prolific work resulted in the production of 28 designs for silk squares, dress and upholstery fabrics, and wall hangings. Using strikingly vibrant colours and modern materials, the aim was to brighten up the post-war wardrobe and bring art into the realm of daily life.
Generously illustrated, Henry Moore Textiles offers a new angle on a popular artist, and is published to coincide with the first exhibition devoted to this facet of Moore's work at the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire.