Bauhaus (1919 – 1933)
The Bauhaus was not just an art style but also a famous German design school founded by Walter Gropius in 1919. Its name means “house of building.” The Bauhaus philosophy was to unite art, craft, and design, inspired by modern industry and architecture. Artists and teachers such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Josef Albers explored abstract shapes, bold colours, and functional design. Bauhaus artwork often used simple geometric forms and a balance of colour and line. The school was closed in 1933 under pressure from the Nazi regime, but its ideas spread worldwide and shaped modern design, architecture, and abstract art.
Learn more Bauhaus-Building the new artist
Artworks to be inspired by-
You may like to try to reproduce the Kandinsky artwork. My demonstration will be inspired by the Anni Albers work.
Wassily Kandinsky – Composition VIII (1923)
Created while Kandinsky taught at the Bauhaus, this painting uses geometric forms, lines, and bold colours arranged with mathematical precision. It shows the Bauhaus belief in uniting art and design, where abstraction and structure were key. The balance of circles, triangles, and intersecting lines illustrates how Bauhaus artists explored harmony between form, colour, and composition.
Anni Albers – Black White Yellow (1926, weaving)
“This Bauhaus textile by Anni Albers is woven with bold blocks of black, white, and yellow. The Bauhaus brought art and craft together, so weaving, furniture, and design were just as important as painting. The simple geometric design reflects the Bauhaus style.”
Artists to Research:
Wassily Kandinsky
Walter Gropius (architect, founder)
Paul Klee
Wassily Kandinsky
Josef Albers
László Moholy-Nagy
Lyonel Feininger
Johannes Itten
Oskar Schlemmer
Marcel Breuer (designer, furniture/architecture)
Herbert Bayer (graphic design)