The Bauhaus

by Krissia Keck

The Bauhaus was a movement that did not last very long, but had lasting impacts on all aspects of the art world. Founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany, Bauhaus aimed to bring together all aspects of art including but not limited to, architecture, sculpture and design.

The Bauhaus Dessau

The difference between Bauhaus and other movements, is that it does not have one specific “style”. Bauhaus aimed to “represent an amalgam of the fantasy of abstract Surrealism and the geometric vocabulary of Cubism, the absorption in science, engineering, and the new industrial materials of Constructivism.” (Hunter pg. 241). After WWI, Germany was economically devastated. A new wave of young artists were willing to step up, and make changes in their generation. In 1919, Gropius founded The Bauhaus, and even allowed women to enroll, which was something unheard of at this time. At first, the school concentrated on more handmade crafts, such as bookmaking and stained glass. Later, Gropius realized that the focus should be primarily in the efficiency of design for industrial production, thus uniting form and function.

Wassily chair by Marcel Breuer

In 1925 the school was forced to relocate to Dessau because of political pressure and disapproval. In 1928 Gropius resigned, and the future of the school was uncertain, until Ludwig Mies van der Rohe took over. Mies was easily influenced by the Nazi forces occupying Germany, and eventually the school was closed down in 1933. Many of the artists who taught and studied at the school were forced to leave the country, and many ended up in the United States, setting the stage for the modern art and architecture we've come to know today. 

Although the movement only lasted for a couple of years, it continues to be one of the most influential movements of all time. Bauhaus recognized that the world was changing, and the art world needed to reflect that change. Innovations made during the industrial Revolution allowed artists to revisit their designs and implement functionality where it had not been found before. Cubism and Abstractionism clearly influenced the geometrical shapes found in Bauhaus. Works during this period did not only evoke and emotion, but also needed to have a function. It was through this philosophy that many works achieved a timeless, modern look, and still look that way today, almost a century later.

Apple's iPhone 5

We can still see how Bauhaus continues to affect art and design. The most popular example of Bauhaus principles at work, is through the philosophies of Apple. Steve Jobs was directly influenced by Bauhaus,and even used Da Vinci's "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” phrase as the slogan for Apple. Apple products are known for their ease of handling, while simultaneously simplifying key functions for the customer. Apple stores have won numerous awards for their modern store designs, including the store on 5th Ave in New York City, which is made almost entirely out of glass. Jobs is also known for hiring a variety of different artists to help him develop new products. He united different people with different skills, in order to achieve a common goal: to create the most functional product without sacrificing the quality of design. Apple exemplifies what the Bauhaus movement stood for in the early 1920's. 

Sources:

Hunter, Sam, John Jacobs, and Daniel Wheeler. Modern Art. New York: Prentice Hall PTR, 2004. Print. 

Quick History: The Bauhaus & Its Influence. Anna Hoffman. December 4, 2012. < http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/post-241-93344>

The Bauhaus. December 4, 2012. <http://www.theartstory.org/movement-bauhaus.htm>