Copy Print: Christmas 1927 (Xanti Schawinsky as an Angel under the Bauhaus Christmas Tree) Possibly 1927 - 1949

Curator: Feininger's "Copy Print: Christmas 1927," captures Xanti Schawinsky costumed as an angel beneath a Bauhaus Christmas tree. It's a fascinating glimpse into the school's festive spirit. Editor: It strikes me as quite unsettling, actually. The stark lighting and the figure's mask create a rather eerie atmosphere, a stark contrast to what one typically associates with Christmas. Curator: Precisely! It challenges traditional holiday imagery. The "tree" is a construct of geometric metal, reflecting the Bauhaus's commitment to industrial design and abstraction, reshaping societal traditions. Editor: I see it as a visual commentary on the changing role of tradition in a rapidly modernizing society. The angel, too, seems less divine and more like a theatrical prop, a symbol of performance. Curator: And consider that Feininger, a young student at the time, was documenting his peers' artistic experiments. This image is loaded with the avant-garde spirit of the Bauhaus, questioning conventions. Editor: It makes you wonder about the role of celebration and ritual within such an iconoclastic environment. Perhaps a way for them to redefine even these ancient traditions. Curator: Indeed, the image provides insight into a community grappling with its own identity and its place in a changing world. Editor: I find its darkness thought-provoking. Curator: As do I. It reminds us that even festive occasions can be sites of profound cultural and artistic exploration.