Bauhaus

Published by Konemann, 2000, hardcover, large format, illustrated, index, 640 pages, condition: new.

This is as comprehensive a history of the Bauhaus as one could wish. This modernist institution was a huge cultural force that probably did more to determine aesthetic and functional style in the twentieth century than any other entity.

The book consists of a series of essays, some of which are of more interest than others depending on the subject. (I enjoyed most those dealing with Klee, Kadinsky, Moholy-Nagy, and the teaching of photography.) The best feature of this book, though, is the wealth of well reproduced paintings, photographs and other artworks. There are also a number of casual black & white snapshots scattered throughout that are of more than passing interest!

The Staatliches Bauhaus commonly known as the Bauhaus (German for 'building house'), was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined crafts and the fine arts. The school became famous for its approach to design, which attempted to unify individual artistic vision with the principles of mass production and emphasis on function.

The Bauhaus was founded by architect Walter Gropius in Weimar. It was grounded in the idea of creating a Gesamtkunstwerk ("comprehensive artwork") in which all the arts would eventually be brought together. The Bauhaus style later became one of the most influential currents in modern design, modernist architecture, and architectural education. The Bauhaus movement had a profound influence on subsequent developments in art, architecture, graphic design, interior design, industrial design, and typography. Staff at the Bauhaus included prominent artists such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Gunta Stölzl, and László Moholy-Nagy at various points.

                                                                                                                       A LARGE COFFEE TABLE BOOK