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Design nerds better sit down for this: Harvard Art Museums just unveiled a 32,000-work-strong online collection of objects related to Bauhaus, no doubt last century’s most influential school of art and design (and host to the best costume parties.) Originally based in three German cities, Bauhaus closed its doors under Nazis pressure in the ‘30s, after which founder Walter Gropius immigrated to Boston and served as chairman of Harvard’s architecture school until retirement. The release of this collection marks the beginning of a broader celebration in 2019, marking the 100th anniversary of the school’s founding.
The repository, filled with works by Bauhaus teachers and students, as well as those inspired by Bauhaus pedagogy, is deliciously searchable. You can go straight to items pertinent to Gropius and prominent Bauhaus protégés like Marcel Breuer or Josef and Anni Albers, or narrow things down by topic, medium, date, and more. There’s also a guide to the archives, chronological introduction to the school, and map of Bauhaus-related sites around Boston. Happy browsing! (And note: According to the museum, "Most any object can be requested for in-person viewing in the museums’ Art Study Center.")
