Farbenkugel in 7 Lichtstufen und 12 Tönen 1921

Johannes Itten made this colour chart, entitled Farbenkugel in 7 Lichtstufen und 12 Tönen, at an unknown date using tempera, varnish, and paper. Itten taught at the Bauhaus, the famous German school of art and design founded in 1919 in the wake of the First World War. The Bauhaus was at the forefront of modernism, which sought to break down the barriers between art, design, and industry. The colour wheel is a key tool for artists and designers. This chart explores colour theory through geometry. It divides colours into 12 hues and organizes these around a central point to show their relationships. Notice how Itten carefully grades the colours to demonstrate how light and shade affect each hue. As an art historian, I'd encourage you to explore the Bauhaus archives. These include documents, photographs, and teaching materials that shed light on Itten’s methods, and the theories behind them. By situating this artwork within its institutional context, we can understand it as part of a larger social and intellectual project.