What is Bauhaus?
Bauhaus was an influential design school founded in Germany in 1919. It aimed to unite art, craft, and technology, emphasizing that good design should be both functional and accessible. The movement is known for its minimalist aesthetic, characterized by clean lines and an emphasis on materials. Bauhaus significantly impacted architecture, industrial design, and graphic design, advocating for designs that were visually appealing and practical. Its principles continue to influence modern design today. Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus and was a big deal in architecture, pushing for the integration of art and technology in design.
My experience
In Color class freshman year my professor taught us about Josef and Anni Albers. The two were relevant in the movement because Jeff taught at the Bauhaus. Both made art that aligned with the Bauhaus philosophy. Josef’s work was revolutionary because of his ability to change the shade and opacity of a color by surrounding it with other colors. This was all done with paper not paint. The color exercises are available for anyone to practice. The boxes range anywhere from 60 to 100 dollars.
The Exercises
As a freshman, I did the color exercises. It was much more difficult than I expected. There are over 50 different shades of colors and the goal was to find the correct one that affected the other color. There are various designs someone can make but Josef and Anni Albers focused on Lines, rectangles, and squares.
Together, these artists helped define the Bauhaus movement and its lasting influence on design and art today.
