Farbformen und Struktuten 1953

Johannes Itten created "Farbformen und Strukturen" using a variety of colors arranged to form an abstract geometric design. Itten's work emerged from a time of great social and political upheaval in Europe, as well as a period of groundbreaking artistic experimentation. As a faculty member at the Bauhaus, Itten developed a unique curriculum centered around color theory and its psychological impact. His exploration of color was deeply personal; he associated specific colors with emotions and spiritual states, reflecting a desire to find harmony and balance amidst the chaos of the modern world. While his theories were innovative, Itten's somewhat mystical approach to art education occasionally led to clashes with the more pragmatic, functionalist aims of the Bauhaus. This tension offers a glimpse into the complex negotiations between individual expression and collective purpose that shaped the artistic climate of the time. In viewing this work, we might reflect on how our own emotional responses to color are shaped by personal experience.