The Art of
Modernism
The Art of
Modernism
The Art of
Modernism
About
About
Founded by Walter Gropius (1883–1969) in Weimar, Germany, the Bauhaus School (1919–1933) was a transformative German art and design school that revolutionized modern design, architecture, and applied arts through its emphasis on the unity of art, craft, and technology.
Founded by Walter Gropius (1883–1969) in Weimar, Germany, the Bauhaus School (1919–1933) was a transformative German art and design school that revolutionized modern design, architecture, and applied arts through its emphasis on the unity of art, craft, and technology.
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Figures
Figures
Masters of
modern art & design
Masters of
modern art & design
Tap a figure for details ↓
Tap a figure for details ↓
Gropius
Gropius
Klee
Klee
Kandinsky
Kandinsky
Breuer
Breuer
Mies
Mies
Moholy
Moholy
A. Albers
A. Albers
J. Albers
J. Albers
Shaping
the future
Shaping
the future
The Bauhaus masters sparked a global shift in design, architecture, and visual culture. Their focus on clarity, minimalism, and function set a new standard that still shapes everything from buildings and furniture to digital interfaces. Today, traces of Bauhaus ideals appear in contemporary brands like Apple and in the clean lines and legible typography of everyday objects.
The Bauhaus masters sparked a global shift in design, architecture, and visual culture. Their focus on clarity, minimalism, and function set a new standard that still shapes everything from buildings and furniture to digital interfaces. Today, traces of Bauhaus ideals appear in contemporary brands like Apple and in the clean lines and legible typography of everyday objects.
Emphasizing both practical experimentation and theoretical learning, Bauhaus workshops reshaped the landscape of creative education. Their push for mass production and accessibility made good design available to everyone, not just the elite. Today, designers in many fields draw on Bauhaus ideas, integrating its principles into contemporary practice.
Group photo at the Bauhaus
Group photo at the Bauhaus
Life at the Bauhaus
Bauhaus weaving class
Class at the Bauhaus
Philosophy
Philosophy
The Bauhaus reshaped art and design by making them part of everyday life, with a focus on function, simplicity, and broad accessibility. By uniting art, craft, and industry, the school broke down traditional barriers and treated all creative fields equally, grounding them in hands-on practice. Its workshop-based education encouraged learning by doing and always linked theory to real-world use.
At the core of Bauhaus thinking was the idea that form should follow function, resulting in geometric clarity and honest materials. By embracing industrial methods, the movement aimed to make good design accessible to more people. Its cross-disciplinary teaching produced designers who balanced artistic vision with technical skill, shaping the direction of modern design.
The unity of Art,
Craft, & Technology
The unity of Art, Craft, & Technology
Form Follows Function
Form Follows Function
Design begins with purpose; beauty follows.
Design begins with purpose; beauty follows.
Unity of Art and Craft
Unity of Art and Craft
Artist and artisan are equals; design is universal.
Artist and artisan are equals; design is universal.
Total Design
Total Design
Design should be holistic; every detail matters.
Design should be holistic; every detail matters.
Embrace of Industry
Embrace of Industry
Design should be scalable and universally accessible.
Design should be scalable and universally accessible.
Learn by Doing
Learn by Doing
True design is best learned through practice.
True design is best learned through practice.
Be Experimental
Be Experimental
Creativity truly thrives through trial and error.
Creativity truly thrives through trial and error.
Core
Values
Core
Values
The Bauhaus transformed art and design by uniting creativity with industry, emphasizing function, simplicity, and accessibility. Its hands-on, workshop-based education broke down barriers between disciplines, encouraging practical learning and the use of honest materials. Guided by the principle that form follows function, the Bauhaus aimed to make good design available to all, shaping modern design with its blend of artistic vision and technical skill.
The Bauhaus transformed art and design by uniting creativity with industry, emphasizing function, simplicity, and accessibility. Its hands-on, workshop-based education broke down barriers between disciplines, encouraging practical learning and the use of honest materials. Guided by the principle that form follows function, the Bauhaus aimed to make good design available to all, shaping modern design with its blend of artistic vision and technical skill.
Bauhaus
Manifesto
Bauhaus
Manifesto
"Architects, sculptors, painters—we must all return to the craft!"
"Architects, sculptors, painters—we must all return to the craft!"
Timeline
Timeline
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1919
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1923
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1925
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1928
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1930
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1932
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1933
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1919
1919
Founding in Weimar
Founding in Weimar
Weimar, Germany
Weimar, Germany
Academy of Fine Arts in Weimar, 1860–1919.
Academy of Fine Arts in Weimar, 1860–1919.
Bauhaus Program, 1919.
Bauhaus Program, 1919.
The Bauhaus was founded in Weimar on April 1, 1919, by Walter Gropius, who merged the Grand-Ducal Saxon Academy of Fine Arts with the School of Arts and Crafts. This new institution aimed to break down barriers between fine arts and crafts, reflecting the spirit of renewal in postwar Germany and Weimar’s vibrant cultural climate.
The Bauhaus was founded in Weimar on April 1, 1919, by Walter Gropius, who merged the Grand-Ducal Saxon Academy of Fine Arts with the School of Arts and Crafts. This new institution aimed to break down barriers between fine arts and crafts, reflecting the spirit of renewal in postwar Germany and Weimar’s vibrant cultural climate.
Gropius’s Bauhaus Program, outlined in his 1919 manifesto, called for uniting architecture, sculpture, and painting as a “guild of craftsmen.” The program emphasized hands-on workshops and individual creativity, making craft the essential foundation for all artistic work rather than relying solely on traditional academic theory and instruction.
Gropius’s Bauhaus Program, outlined in his 1919 manifesto, called for uniting architecture, sculpture, and painting as a “guild of craftsmen.” The program emphasized hands-on workshops and individual creativity, making craft the essential foundation for all artistic work rather than relying solely on traditional academic theory and instruction.
The Academy of Fine Arts provided the foundation for the Bauhaus, which welcomed students of all backgrounds, genders, and nationalities. Early faculty included Johannes Itten, Lyonel Feininger, and Gerhard Marcks, soon joined by Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, establishing the Bauhaus as a center for avant-garde design.
The Academy of Fine Arts provided the foundation for the Bauhaus, which welcomed students of all backgrounds, genders, and nationalities. Early faculty included Johannes Itten, Lyonel Feininger, and Gerhard Marcks, soon joined by Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, establishing the Bauhaus as a center for avant-garde design.
Legacy
Legacy
the Bauhaus shaped modern art & design
the Bauhaus shaped modern art & design
Open for just 14 years (1919–1933), its focus on simplicity, functionality, and collaboration continues to shape creative fields worldwide.
Architecture
Post Bauhaus
Architecture
Post Bauhaus
Gropius House
Gropius House
Farnsworth House
Farnsworth House
Bijenkorf Rotterdam
Bijenkorf Rotterdam
UNESCO Headquarters
UNESCO Headquarters
MetLife Building
MetLife Building
New National Gallery
New National Gallery
Arts & Craft
Post Bauhaus
Arts & Craft
Post Bauhaus
Chaise Longue
Chaise Longue
Dominant Curve
Dominant Curve
Angel Applicant
Angel Applicant
Astatic
Astatic
Nuclear I, CH
Nuclear I, CH
Black White Gray
Black White Gray
After the Bauhaus closed in 1933, leaders like Gropius, Moholy-Nagy, Breuer, and Josef and Anni Albers spread its ideals worldwide-especially in the U.S., where they shaped modern art, design, and architecture. Their influence led to new schools like the New Bauhaus in Chicago and the Ulm School in Germany, ensuring the Bauhaus legacy continues to inspire creative fields today.
Open for just 14 years (1919–1933), its focus on simplicity, functionality, and collaboration continues to shape creative fields worldwide.
Open for just 14 years (1919–1933), its focus on simplicity, functionality, and collaboration continues to shape creative fields worldwide.
Bibliography
Bibliography