You know how you hear or read a word and you have to know its meaning.? I kept reading references to "Bauhaus." I had to find out about it. What I learned was astonishing to me.
Much of the art that was referred to as "modern" or "contemporary" in the 1950s and 60s (and even today) had its beginnings back in 1919 Germany at the Bauhaus School of Art and Architecture.
Artists such as Kandinsky, Klee, Josef Albers, and the architect Mies Van Der Rohe were all teachers at the Bauhaus. All the artists and architects at the school shared a philosophy that "form follows function." In other words, the beauty of any object was in the simplicity of the design after considering the function of the object.
The school was much heralded in Germany for its innovation - except by the Nazi party. When they came to power in 1933, they closed the school. The Nazis preferred heroic art of the state and considered the Bauhaus school as an example of deviance and corruption of art purity.
Below are examples of art, architecture, and design from the Bauhaus. As you look at the works, do they remind you of another era of art or architecture? or perhaps the work of a more recent artist?
One person who influenced Bauhaus architecture was Frank Lloyd Wright. The first head of the Bauhaus school, architect Walter Gropius, even acknowledged Wright's influence. (Of course Wright being who he was never indicated any influence of the Bauhaus nor Gropius on himself.) The Bauhaus influence can be seen all around us today, but was never stronger than post-WWII architecture, clothing, furniture, etc. Jim
ReplyDeleteI still see that caned back chair around. I never knew it dated back to the first half of 20th century. Wow! Melinda
ReplyDeleteAnother enlightening Wednesday...thanks, Connie
ReplyDeleteI love Kandinsky, and Miro too, for that matter.
ReplyDeletecheers,
Britt