Material Modernity: Innovations in Art, Design, and Architecture in the Weimar Republic

During the Weimar Republic, German art, design, and architecture experienced a surge of creative innovation. This was driven by experiments with new techniques, such as abstraction, and the use of new media like paper and plastic. The book explores the role of new materials in opening up fresh avenues in the plastic arts, and how advances in color perception and psychology related to an increased interest in visual perception and the latent potential of color as both architectural ornament and carrier of emotional force in space. The drivers for innovation were often complex and nuanced, influenced by material shortages, the devastation of industrial infrastructure, and a spirit of experimentation that permeated interwar German culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 27 July 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Material Modernity delves into the vibrant realm of creative innovation in German art, design, and architecture during the Weimar Republic, unveiling the captivating fusion of new and old media. Weimar, renowned for its artistic explosion, witnessed a surge of ingenious creativity across various art forms, driven by groundbreaking experiments with novel techniques, such as the embrace of abstraction in painting and sculpture, and innovative explorations in emerging media like paper and plastic. These materials, employing both traditional and modern art production methods, sparked a wave of artistic experimentation. Within the chapters of this book, we delve into groundbreaking inventions, such as the camera, celluloid, and concrete composites, which opened up fresh avenues in the plastic arts. We also explore how advancements in color perception and psychology intertwined with a growing fascination with visual perception, shedding light on the latent potential of color as both architectural ornament and a powerful carrier of emotional force in spatial contexts.

While art historians often attribute the experimentation of the Weimar Republic to a deliberate rejection of traditional modes of expression in pursuit of a modern art and architecture liberated from historical constraints, this volume presents a more intricate and nuanced perspective. It begins by exploring how material shortages, stemming from the aftermath of the First World War, coupled with the devastation to industrial infrastructure and disruptions to historic trade routes, profoundly impacted art. Moreover, it delves into the pervasive spirit of experimentation that permeated interwar German culture, shaping the creative landscape.

In the 1920s, the artistic realm faced new challenges and conventions, prompting artists to reimagine traditional art modes like painting, sculpture, drawing, architecture, textiles, and print-making. At the same time, this volume investigates the likely causes of innovation, shedding light on the driving forces that propelled artistic progress during this transformative period. Material Modernity serves as a captivating window into the rich tapestry of German art, design, and architecture during the Weimar Republic, highlighting the interplay between creativity, experimentation, and the influence of historical events on artistic expression.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350228740