There is much written about the Bauhaus recently, in celebrating its centennial, that we must be more selective and careful than anytime before when consulting our resources. Therefore, these days, when I am preparing my various lectures on the Bauhaus, and while researching for the upcoming Spring Dialogues, which will include a lot of discussion on the the legendary school, I have chosen to focus on primary sources. It is these authentic writings, the Bauhaus’ original publications, that illuminate its legacy in the most accurate way. Whereas in the past, one had to visit a research library to read them, now, with a new re-edition by Lars Muller Publishers in collaboration with Bauhaus-Archiv/Museum fur Gestaltung, it has become easy to read the voices of those who shaped the birth of the Modern Movement. This new initiative contains of five publications: the Bauhaus iconic journal, the school published periodically from 1926 to 1931, with articled by such masters as Josef Albers, Walter Gropius, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, László Moholy-Nagy, Oskar Schlemmer, Herbert Bayer, Marcel Breuer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe; the publication ‘Piet Mondrian New Design,’ edited by Gropius and Moholy-Nagy; ‘Paul Klee: Pedagogical Sketchbook,’ focuses on the legend who taught in teh bookbinding, stained glass, and mural painting workshops, and brought his blend of color and line to the narrative of the school; ‘Walter Gropius: International Architecture,’ which is his own manifesto and guide to modern architecture; ‘László Moholy-Nagy: Painting, Photography, Film,’ on my own favorite Bauhaus master and his efforts to have photography and filmaking recognized as means of artistic design on the same level as painting. These five books are mandatory in any library of design/architecture lover and can be ordered from Lars Muller Publishers.
The Bauhaus masters on the roof of the Bauhaus building in Dessau. From the left: Josef Albers, Hinnerk Scheper, Georg Muche, László Moholy-Nagy, Herbert Bayer, Joost Schmidt, Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, Vassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Lyonel Feininger, Gunta Stölzl and Oskar Schlemmer.