Why did John Ruskin criticize mass-produced objects?

John Ruskin criticized mass-produced objects because he believed they lacked the "imperfection" he identified as an essential, humanizing feature of Gothic art.1

In his work The Stones of Venice, Ruskin argued that mass production and the mechanical regularity of modern manufacturing stripped away the creative freedom and artistic fulfillment of the individual workman. He maintained that one could not—and should not—take pleasure in an object that had not itself been made with pleasure.1

For Ruskin, the artistic quality of an object was a direct reflection of the social conditions under which it was produced. By contrasting the soul-crushing nature of industrial capitalism with the craftsmanship of the medieval era, he sought to advocate for a society where individuals could lead lives of greater aesthetic fulfillment. This perspective became a foundational influence on the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century.12