Firstly, we looked at De Stilj, a Dutch Modern art movement that was created during the first and second world war. Piet Mondrain and Theo Van Doesburg were the two most referred to painters that introduced this style of art. This style of art consisted of abstract and reduced painting to simple lines, geometric shapes, plane surfaces and primary colours with the use of some black, white or grey. This art was very minimalistic.
Piet Mondrain was the most outstanding painter from the movement. His art is incredibly recognisable and fascinating. From his art being inspired by Theosophy and analytical cubism. Mondrian came up with the idea to remove all components, reducing painting to its few elements. Lines, shapes and a limited colour palette. Below is one of his art pieces which show the De Stilj art style.
This art style actually went so far that it inspired fashion and food.
Theo Van Doesburg was also a founder of the movement, Mondrian actually inspired him to start creating abstraction and composition paintings in which he enjoyed. Very similar to Mondrian's work he used shapes, a small range of colours and lines. By this time the use of grids started to become more popular.
Theo Van Doesburg decided to expand this art style towards type and typogrpahy. Which led to him creating a square typeface which consisted of uniform style and shape. This was clearly inspired by the De Stilj movement which focused on shape.
His art was actually extremely detailed and realistic, his exploration into abstraction led to his art becoming less and less realistic. Below is a series of photos that Doesburg created. The series of a cow being simplified into just shapes.
Constructivism was an art and architecture movement that originated in Russia in the early 20th century. The founders of this movement was Vladimir Tatlin and Alexander Rodchenko. This movement had a massive impact on 20th century modern art and design. The design style was influenced by the Industrial Revolution that the Soviet Union experienced after the Russian Revolution, Cubism and Futurism.
The Bauhaus was arguably the single most influential modernist art school of the 20th century. Bauhaus means “house of construction” Its approach to teaching, and to the relationship between art, society, and technology, had a major impact both in Europe and in the United States long after its closure under Nazi pressure in 1933. Lots of famous designers have attended and taught at the school. The school had an area for every type of art, including product desing, graphic design, fine art etc. This gives a different perspective on all types of art.
Bauhaus has influenced design incredibly and has affected so much. The school briefly opened in Berlin after it closed due to the Nazis but did not last very long. The history of Bauhaus is one of the most influential part of history for art of all time.
Paul Klee as a Swiss-born German artist. Teaching and contributing to the movement that would come to be known as “abstraction” in the Bauhaus. His contribution to the colour theory, with his art being derived from expressionism, surrealism, his bold use of crashing colours influenced future artists incredibly.
Herbert Bayer was an Austrian/American graphic designer, painter, photographer, sculptor, art director, environmental and interior designer, and architect. He ran the first ever class of typography in Bauhaus. He created a universal typeface, which became Bauhaus’ official typeface. From 1921 to 1923 he attended the Bauhaus. He helped create the modern discipline of graphic design by using photography, type and geometric systems to promote ideas and products.