The Bauhaus movement originated as a German school of the arts in the early 20th century. Founded by German architect Walter Gropius in 1919, the school was dedicated to uniting all branches of the arts under one roof. The Bauhaus acted as a hub for Europe’s most experimental creatives, with well-known artist instructors like Wassily KandinskyWassily (Vasily) Kandinsky (1866 – 1944) is known as one of the pioneers of abstract modern art. He was born in in Moscow to upper-class parents of mixed ethnic origins. At an early age, Kandinsky showed a rare sensitivity towards music and the arts, which his father strongly supported. Kandinsky decided to study law, ethnography, and economics, and started successfully More, Josef Albers, and Paul Klee, gradually morphing into its own modern art movement characterized by its unique aesthetic approach to architecture, design, and fine art.
The style of Bauhaus is characterized as an amalgamation of the Arts and Crafts movement with modernismThe term Modernism refers to a global movement in society and culture which sought the departure from traditional forms of thinking in favour of the creation of new forms of art, philosophy, and social organisation. Reflecting the transformations in western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the newly emerging industrial world provided the impetus to depart More, evident in emphasising form and function and the aim to bring art back into contact with everyday life. Thus, the typical Bauhaus design as seen in architecture and interior design focuses on balanced forms and abstract shapes. The emphasis on function in painting is evident through balanced abstract compositions with overlapping shapes and flat planes as in the artwork of Wassily KandinskyWassily (Vasily) Kandinsky (1866 – 1944) is known as one of the pioneers of abstract modern art. He was born in in Moscow to upper-class parents of mixed ethnic origins. At an early age, Kandinsky showed a rare sensitivity towards music and the arts, which his father strongly supported. Kandinsky decided to study law, ethnography, and economics, and started successfully More and Paul Klee.
As an educational institution, the Bauhaus existed in three cities in Weimar from 1919 to 1925, Dessau from 1925 to 1932, and Berlin from 1932 to 1933, under three different architect-directors: Walter Gropius from 1919 to 1928; Hannes Meyer from 1928 to 1930; and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe from 1930 until 1933. In 1933, the Bauhaus was closed under the pressure from the Nazi regime, since it was blamed for being a centre of communist intellectualism. Notwithstanding, the Bauhaus staff continued to spread its idealistic precepts leaving Germany, emigrating all over the world, strongly impacting the development of arts and style worldwide.