Bauhaus
Origins and Foundation
The Bauhaus was a revolutionary school of art, architecture, and design established by Walter Gropius in 1919 in Weimar, Germany. The name "Bauhaus" translates from German to "building house," which is a reference to the Germanic tradition of the Bauhütte, a guild of builders. Gropius envisioned the Bauhaus as a place where artists, architects, and designers could collaborate and break down the barriers between their respective fields.
Philosophy and Aims
The Bauhaus aimed to bring art back into contact with everyday life, and thus, it had profound influences on subsequent developments in art, architecture, graphic design, interior design, industrial design, and typography. The school sought to create a new "Gesamtkunstwerk," or "total work of art," in which all arts, including architecture, would eventually be brought together. The Bauhaus style is characterized by its severely economic and functional design with little to no ornamentation.
Curriculum
The curriculum at the Bauhaus consisted of a preliminary course that introduced students to various materials and color theory, followed by specialized workshops in areas such as metalworking, cabinetmaking, weaving, pottery, typography, and wall painting. The school's faculty included some of the most renowned artists of the 20th century, such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and László Moholy-Nagy.
Impact and Influence
Despite its relatively short lifespan (it was closed by the Nazis in 1933), the Bauhaus had a profound influence upon subsequent developments in art, architecture, graphic design, interior design, industrial design, and typography. The school's approach to teaching, and its focus on practical skills and technology, has been influential upon subsequent schools of art and design.
Legacy
The Bauhaus has left a lasting legacy, both through its surviving buildings and its enduring influence on design and architecture. Many of the school's designs are still in production, and Bauhaus-style homes continue to be popular. The Bauhaus Archive in Berlin, Germany, is a museum dedicated to the school, and it houses a large collection of original Bauhaus works.