Bauhaus: History of the Bauhaus, The creation of the Bauhaus and The Bauhaus in Weimar
Bauhaus
Bauhaus logo created in 1922 by Oskar Schlemmer
Facade of the Bauhaus building in Dessau
The Bauhaus is an institute of arts and crafts founded in 1919 in Weimar (Germany) by Walter Gropius, and which by extension means an artistic movement, particularly concerning the architecture and design, but also photography, the costumes and dance. This movement set the basis for reflection on the modern architecture, particularly the international style. In 1933, the Bauhaus was closed by the Nazis and its dissolution is pronounced by its leaders. Many artists and teachers fled the United States to escape Nazism.
The program of the Bauhaus has attracted the membership of many artists of avant-garde throughout Europe, among which include Johannes Itten, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, László Moholy-Nagy and Marcel Breuer.
The Bauhaus has had three directors: Walter Gropius, Hannes Meyer and Mies Van der Rohe.
History of the Bauhaus
The creation of the Bauhaus
Walter Gropius (1883-1969), founder and director of the Bauhaus (1919-1928)
The creation of the Bauhaus in Germany takes place during the turbulent period immediately after the war and part of the history of innovative artistic movements of the early twentieth century.
After his resignation in 1915 of the Directorate of School of Applied Arts in Weimar (Kunstgewerbeschule), Henry van de Velde was one of the key members of the Deutscher Werkbund recommends that Walter Gropius was succeeded by The First World War ended, Gropius, who had trained in the architectural firm of Peter Behrens and had actively participated in the movement of the Deutscher Werkbund, seeks to develop innovative ideas in art and architecture. After the proclamation of the Weimar Republic in November 1918, Gropius proposed interim government to convene the school of Decorative Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts in Weimar. On April 12, 1919, Gropius was appointed director of the school then called Staatliches Bauhaus Weimar zu (From German Bau, building, construction and Haus, house Bauhaus: house building, house construction).
Walter Gropius then published the manifesto and program of the Bauhaus. In the manifesto of the Bauhaus, he announced the mission of the school in these terms: "The ultimate goal of any business is plastic construction! [...] Architects, sculptors, painters, we must all return to craftsmanship, because there is not of professional art. There is no essential difference between the artist and the craftsman. [...] Want, design and create all the new construction of the future that will embrace all in one form: architecture, visual art and painting [...]
The Bauhaus in Weimar
Ruins of Tempelherrenhaus who served as workshop Itten from 1919 to 1923
Courses start on October 1, 1919 To implement his ideas about art, Gropius appealed to artists. He recruited as the master painter Lyonel Feininger, the sculptor Gerhard Marcks and the painter and art teacher Johannes Itten. Despite the difficult post-war workshops are gradually introduced.
In 1920 to promote closer ties between the arts and crafts, board of control agreed to significant reform: each workshop is under the responsibility of a master craftsman (Werkmeister) and an artist master of the form (Formmeister). Meanwhile, Itten has instructed the Education Preparatory Course becomes a mandatory semester. The painter Georg Muche was recruited as a teacher.
In early 1921 the painters Paul Klee and Oskar Schlemmer were appointed masters, while in autumn the painter Lothar Schreyer was appointed head of the department show. Theo van Doesburg member of the movement De Stijl, which s is installed in Weimar lectures at the Bauhaus and presents his work at exhibitions. On this occasion, he criticized the Expressionism claimed by Gropius and promotes constructivism. Doesburg critical such as crafts and advocates the use of the machine to create
During the year 1922 Gropius is changing the objectives of the Bauhaus to reflect on the use of industrial methods to create. Itten who is opposed to this development is gradually removed. The painter Wassily Kandinsky was hired as a teacher.
Beginning in 1923 Itten leaves the Bauhaus, replaced by the Constructivist artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy who became head of the metal workshop and provide the preliminary course. Alter Gropius Bauhaus motto: "Art and Technology, a new unity" replaces "There is no essential difference between the artist and the craftsman" manifesto.
In 1924, the Social Democratic government was defeated in elections to the Land of Thuringia. The Conservatives demanded the closure of the Bauhaus decide to divide by three the grant at the Bauhaus In this context, December 26, 1924, the Bauhaus masters declare the dissolution of the Bauhaus in Weimar from 1 April 1925 To support the Bauhaus, the Circle of Friends of the Bauhaus (Kreis der Freunde des Bauhaus) is founded. Marc Chagall, Albert Einstein and Gerhart Hauptmann in particular are part of the board
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