Gertrud Herold on Bauhaus Roof, Dessau 1928 - 1929

Curator: Leo Baron's gelatin silver print captures Gertrud Herold on the Bauhaus roof in Dessau. The image measures about 5.8 by 3.6 centimeters. Editor: It has a wonderfully airy feeling, doesn't it? The geometric regularity of the rooftop contrasts with the soft, undefined skyline. Curator: Indeed. Baron uses the strong horizontals of the roofline to create a dynamic composition. It divides the picture plane. Editor: This image speaks to the Bauhaus ethos, doesn’t it? It was about the synthesis of art, architecture, and technology, and the picture conveys that. Curator: Absolutely. This photograph, now held in the Harvard Art Museums, places Herold within that utopian vision. Editor: It really encapsulates the optimism and the functional aesthetic ideals that defined the Bauhaus movement. Curator: A truly evocative image, hinting at a new era and a new way of living. Editor: I find it quite captivating. A simple portrait, yet loaded with meaning.