Wie Wohnen? Die Wohnung. Werkbund Ausstellung
Poster
1927 (made)
1927 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This poster was designed to advertise the exhibition Die Wohnung (The Dwelling), held in Stuttgart from July to September 1927. The exhibition was an important moment in the development of Modernist architecture, with architects such as Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier taking part. The exhibition played a role in introducing Modernist architecture to a wide audience, attracting large numbers of international visitors.
The visual language of the poster makes the message of the exhibition very clear; the rejection of the old, highly decorative interior style is signified by a red cross. The viewer is left in no doubt about the bold, Modernist agenda of the exhibition.
The visual language of the poster makes the message of the exhibition very clear; the rejection of the old, highly decorative interior style is signified by a red cross. The viewer is left in no doubt about the bold, Modernist agenda of the exhibition.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Wie Wohnen? Die Wohnung. Werkbund Ausstellung (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Lithograph on paper |
| Brief description | Poster by Willi Baumeister for an exhibition organized by the Deutscher Werkbund at the Weissenhofsiedlung, Stuttgart. Germany, 1927. |
| Physical description | Poster |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Wie wohnen? Die Wohnung Werkbund Ausstellung Juli-Sept 1927 Stuttgart' |
| Gallery label | A groundbreaking movement
In a clean break with heavily decorated styles of the past, Modernist designers turned to simple materials like bentwood and tubular steel. In Germany, a number of housing exhibitions and publications sought to bring this visionary movement to a new, wide audience. The robust, black bentwood chair and metal table lamp were included in the Frankfurt Register, a publication issued by the Frankfurt city council to promote this new, more affordable form of design.
Exhibition poster rejecting decorative interiors
‘Wie Wohnen? Die Wohnung’ (How should we live? The Dwelling), 1927
Designed by Willi Baumeister
Issued by the Deutscher Werkbund, Germany
Lithograph on paper
Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund
Museum no. E.266-2005
Black bentwood chair
Model B403, 1927
Designed by Ferdinand Kramer
Manufactured by Thonet, Germany
Steam-bent beech frame and plywood back rest and seat, stained black
Museum no. W.3-2005
Adjustable table lamp
Dell-Lampe Type K, about 1929
Designed by Christian Dell
Manufactured by Zimmermann GmbH, Germany
Steel, nickelled brass and ebonite
Museum no. M.27-1992
The object sits in the 'Housing and Leaving' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.
(2021) |
| Credit line | Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This poster was designed to advertise the exhibition Die Wohnung (The Dwelling), held in Stuttgart from July to September 1927. The exhibition was an important moment in the development of Modernist architecture, with architects such as Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier taking part. The exhibition played a role in introducing Modernist architecture to a wide audience, attracting large numbers of international visitors. The visual language of the poster makes the message of the exhibition very clear; the rejection of the old, highly decorative interior style is signified by a red cross. The viewer is left in no doubt about the bold, Modernist agenda of the exhibition. |
| Bibliographic reference | A.C. La Revista Del G.A.T.E.P.A.C. 1931-1937 Madrid: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, 2008. ISBN 978-84-8026-361-0. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.266-2005 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
