From Thuringia to the World

More than 100 years ago, the most influential art school of the early 20th century opened its doors in Weimar. Its founder, Walter Gropius, couldn’t have known back then that the revolutionary ideas of the Bauhaus would go on to conquer the world, and would continue to influence the work of many architects and designers to this day. Although there are authentic Bauhaus locations all over Thuringia, Weimar should be at the top of your must-see list, as it has three Bauhaus sites that were awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1996.

As the saying goes, there’s no accounting for taste. The new Bauhaus Museum, which opened in Weimar in 2019, has certainly been controversial. The Klassik Stiftung Weimar foundation, together with the architect, Heike Hanada, opened the innovative building to coincide with the Bauhaus centenary in Weimar. Since then it has been home to the oldest Bauhaus collection in the world, compiled by Walter Gropius himself.

The Bauhaus, the most influential art school of the early 20th century, was shaped by all sorts of different characters. But the figures usually associated with it, such as Walter Gropius, Henry van de Velde and Wassily Kandinsky, are invariably men. So what about the women? Although they made up around one third of Bauhaus artists and designers their role at the school has been largely neglected.

Around the turn of the 19th century, three major figures in Weimar were committed to establishing a glittering new era which they described as the ‘new Weimar’. A permanent exhibition dedicated to them opened at the Museum Neues Weimar in 2019. It portrays the emergence of the modernist movement and its role as precursor to the Bauhaus in Weimar using outstanding international examples of realist, impressionist and art nouveau works. We are talking to Sabine Walter, the curator who was instrumental in putting together the permanent exhibition ‘Van de Velde, Nietzsche and Modernism around 1900’ at the Museum Neues Weimar.

“Hi, my name is Anna. I’m from Thuringia in Germany.” I’ve lost track of how often I have said those words. I’m a youthful 35, unattached, carefree and always keen to learn new things. After finishing my degree and spending quite a bit of time abroad I got a job in international marketing. Travel has always been my great passion. Exploring new cultures and different countries – and getting to know the locals properly – are what I like doing best. Now I have friends all over the world. Some people call me a globetrotter, but I’m always happy to return home to Thuringia.

It originated in Weimar. And it went on to conquer the world – and our living rooms …

“Square, triangle and circle – red, blue and yellow.” Form follows function. Timeless design, art, culture and modern architecture that are well ahead of their time? In 1919, the world is in upheaval.