Bauhaus Building, Dessau, 1925-1926: View from southwest after 1926

Editor: This is a photograph of the Bauhaus Building in Dessau, taken by Klaus Hertig between 1925 and 1926. The geometry is compelling; what's most striking to you? Curator: The starkness of the image speaks volumes. Consider the social context: post-WWI Germany, a need for functional, efficient design accessible to all. How do the materials—concrete, steel, glass—reflect this ethos? Editor: They seem very utilitarian, almost anti-decorative. Curator: Precisely. It’s about the means of production, rejecting traditional craftsmanship for industrial processes. Notice the unadorned surfaces and the emphasis on function over ornamentation. What does that say about the Bauhaus philosophy and its relationship to the labor of building? Editor: It’s a complete rejection of the past, a focus on the future and the democratization of design. Thanks, that’s really helpful!