L'esprit du Bauhaus exhibit and more

Wednesday November 23 was a beautiful day in Paris- a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 15C.
We had a long sleep and Alain did some food shopping in the late morning.

We left the apartment in the early afternoon and took the Metro to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs to see a wonderful exhibit entitled L'esprit du Bauhaus.  The Bauhaus (translation: build house), was an art school that established itself as a major influence on 20th century art.  It was founded in 1919 in Weimar Germany by Walter Gropius (1883-1969), moved to Dessau in 1925 (for political reasons) and then Berlin in 1932.  It was forced under Nazi pressure to close in 1933.  The Bauhaus was created by Gropius to improve architecture through a synthesis of the arts, crafts and industry.  It used a cathedral symbol in its manifesto to indicate inclusiveness of all forms of arts and crafts.

A degree was typically 3 or 4 years and students studied under Masters of Form (general aesthetic principles) and Masters of Craft (technical experts).  Workshops included ceramics, metal, weaving and architecture.  Teachers included Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Mies Van der Rohe.

The exhibit contained more than 700 works including objects, photographs, textiles, furniture, drawings, paintings and ceramics.  It began with a section on the historical context of the Bauhaus and then had sections on the various workshops within the school.  There was also a section on post-Bauhaus works by contemporary artists.  It was a comprehensive and fascinating exhibit.   The Bauhaus has always been a favourite period of creativity and innovation for me.

Banner for exhibit

L'esprit du Bauhaus

Early influences on the Bauhaus were the Viennese Secession founded by Gustav Klimt (1862-1918).  Josef Hoffman who founded the Wiener Werkstatte (1903-1932) in 1903 also believed in the total work of art concept, which was a huge influence on the Bauhaus.

Early influences

Tea Service by Josef Hoffmann (1870 -1956)

The exhibit included works by both the Masters of the workshops and their students.

Colour wheel used in Bauhaus teaching 

Kadinsky

Stained Glass- Josef Albers

There was a wonderful series of photos of Bauhaus students and teachers.  They socialized together and artistic practice was never ending.  There were many costume parties and other social events.

Members of the Bauhaus on the beach

Beautiful photo of Marianne Brandt-student and later head of the metal workshop in 1928

Amazing Bauhaus costume designs

There was a wonderful photo of some of the key people at the Bauhaus at the inauguration of the new buildings in Dessau in 1926.

Wassily Kandinsky, his wife Nina, Georg Muche, Paul Klee and Walter Gropius

The Bauhaus was forced to leave Dessau in 1931 by the Nazis and it briefly moved to Berlin.  In April 1933, the Gestapo raided the Berlin school.  It reopened briefly but could not agree to the Nazis' demand that Kandinsky be dismissed.  The Bauhaus Council voted to dissolve the school in July 1933.  Many of its teachers and students left Germany.  A map in the exhibit indicated where they ended up.

Iwao Yamawaki- Le coup contre le Bauhaus(reproduction of a photomontage done at the time of the Bauhaus closure)

There was a section on post-Bauhaus works, come by former Bauhaus teachers and other more contemporary pieces.

Josef Albers- Hommage to the Square 1956

Alain exiting the exhibit

There was a beautiful light in Paris as we walked to Rue Saint Honoré.

Late afternoon in Paris

We stopped at the concept store Colette to admire the beautiful clothes (at outrageous prices).

We then stopped at Café Verlet (operating since 1880 as a coffee house) for a café.

At Café Verlet on Rue Saint Honoré

We walked over to Palais Royal, one of our favourite spots in the city.  There was a wonderful display of clothes by the winner of the 31st Festival International De Mode et de Photographie a Hyeres in a number of windows in the Ministry of Culture building.  Wataru Tominaga from Japan was the winner for his fashions, which we saw on display.  Vendula Knopova won the prize for photography.

We visited our favourite scarf store -Epice- at the Palais Royal.  We are invited to a private sale on Thursday.  We shall return.

We stopped for an apéro at L'imprimerie. They had a happy hour with 6 euro mojitos and 4 euro glasses of wine.  It was lovely sitting outside in late November.

Alain with his Cotes de Rhone

With a mojito classic

We then walked across the river and back to our apartment where Alain made dinner which included a lovely filet of dorade, potatoes and salad.