The Bauhaus Group: Six Masters of Modernism

I'm only 100 pages into this book but am really enjoying it. It tells the story of the Bauhaus, an amazing school of design in Germany 100 years ago, with a narration of its history woven through biographies of the most well known people involved: Walter Gropius, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Breuer and Josef Albers, all giants of Modernism. The author knows how to tell a story and is very engaging. He starts with the story of Alma Mahler, the femme fatale of her era, which might seem like gratuitous gossip but turns out to be a significant to the Bauhaus story. Learning about her helps us understand her husband Walter Gropius, the brilliant and driven architect who dreamed up the Bauhaus. Many of the "Bauhauslers" as they are called, had made unusual lifestyle choices in an era which did not particularly welcome bohemians or innovators.I find myself fascinated with this story and these visionaries, their struggle to change art and design, the teaching of art and design, to reinvent the world and to make the Bauhaus survive. Their story is compelling. One wants so much for them to succeed. They were definitely pioneers of modernism.

This is a fun read. Sometimes it almost seems that Weber is too close to his subjects. The praise he covers the Bauhauslers with is a little over the top but this is a great introduction to what the Bauhaus was and was about. It could have done with more colored illustrations. In some cases, Weber describes an object or painting but with no illustration of the piece it is somewhat hard to follow. Surely, since he talks a lot about J. Albers' "Homage to the Square", that there would at least be an example of one in the book. Overall, a good read.

A well written and entertaining book about Bauhaus and its people. I have appreciated furniture and the utilitarian items associated with Bauhaus but knew nothing about its artists. A couple of the artists are among my favorites. For me it is a great starting point to learn more about this design school.

If you are interested in the new wave of design movement in the early twentieth century, you would be fascinated about this testimonies. Otherwise this book may mean nothing much. That's why I didn't give five stars.

A very disappointing book. The author chooses to write at great length about Joseph and Anni Albers, who he knew well. In doing so he almost ignores important Bauhaus figures such as Bruer and minimizes coverage of others. For a $40 book he skimps on illustrations. Seeing pictures or drawings of furniture and buildings would have added greatly to the enjoyment and the knowledge gained from the book. The information about the Albers favorite restaurant in suburban Connecticut is of little interest to me and of little importance compared to the Bauhaus history.

Fabulous Book ... I was looking fir it everywhere ... It even showed up in like new condition ... Thanks Much

Interesting, informative, and loved the writing style. Also accompanying photos, etc. made it even better. I can recommend this book to anyone interested in that art era.

A disappointment.Poorly edited- redundant story telling with an emphasis on the petty and sexual.These artists deserve better.

a great introduction to the Bauhaus

excellent