Bauhaus

A German Architect called Walter Gropius was the founder of Bauhaus in 1919. The main objective was to unite all the arts. This union was to combine architecture, sculpture and painting into one single expression of creativity.

Walter Gropius

Bauhaus combined fine arts and design in one educational curriculum. Initially, students began a study of materials, colour and theory to help them develop a basis for more specialised studies. These courses were taught by artists themselves.

Following this course, the students went onto more specialised workshops, taking them further into metalwork, woodwork, weaving, pottery and wall painting, to name a few.

'Red Blue chair', deal and plywood (originally) by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, 1918

Bauhaus, whilst emphasising on crafts, changed its goal around 1923, giving more importance to designing for mass production. The school's slogan became 'Art into Industry'.

The school moved to a new building in 1925. This building became the hallmark of modernist architecture. It was constructed using a steel-frame, a glass curtain wall and an asymmetrical pinwheel plan.

The furniture workshop was the most popular. Many a mass-produced metal chair was designed here a Bauhaus. The textile workshop created many abstract designs. All materials were used including cellophane and metal. Fabrics produced were very popular and sold well. The Metalwork workshop was also popular. It produced many prototypes for mass production.

In 1928, Gropius stepped down as director. The architect Hannes Meyer took over the past. The school continued to gain momentum introducing Advertising and photography into the curriculum.

Hannes Meyer

Hannes Meyer resigned as director in 1930. This is when Ludwig Van Der Rohe, also an architect, took up the position.

Ludwig Van Der Rohe

Due to the unstable political situation in Germany at the time, the school had to move to Berlin and in 1933 Bauhaus closed its doors.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-2013. The Bauhaus, 1919–1933. [online] Available at: <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bauh/hd_bauh.htm> [Accessed 4 December 2013].