Gropius and van Doesburg: From Friendship to Clash Over Color and Architecture
This article explores the dynamic between Walter Gropius and Theo van Doesburg, focusing on their conflicting views regarding color in architecture. Their encounter took place on December 20, 1920, at the residence of Bruno Taut, where Gropius proposed that van Doesburg teach at the Bauhaus. However, this opportunity never came to fruition, leaving van Doesburg feeling resentful. In response, he set up a rival course at Peter Röhl's studio, which resulted in violent confrontations. Gropius, influenced by Itten and Kandinsky, believed color should play a secondary role to architecture, while van Doesburg championed its independence. He was involved in the Dada movement, edited Mécano, and in 1922, invited Dadaists to a Constructivist congress. In 1923, he curated a De Stijl exhibition in Paris, featuring works that employed color as 'counter-composition.'
Key facts
- Walter Gropius and Theo van Doesburg met on December 20, 1920, at Bruno Taut's home.
- Gropius invited van Doesburg to teach at the Bauhaus in Weimar, but no formal position was offered.
- Van Doesburg moved to Weimar and organized a counter-course at Peter Röhl's studio, banned to Bauhaus students.
- The conflict involved stone-throwing and gunfire.
- Gropius saw color as subordinate to architecture; van Doesburg advocated for color's autonomy.
- Van Doesburg participated in Dada under the pseudonym Bonset, edited Mécano, and toured with Kurt Schwitters.
- In 1922, van Doesburg invited Dadaists to a Constructivist congress in Weimar.
- Van Doesburg organized a De Stijl architecture exhibition at L'Effort Moderne in Paris from October 15 to November 15, 1923.
- The exhibition featured Maison Particulière and Maison d'Artiste, designed with Cornelius van Eesteren.
- Van Doesburg's concept of 'counter-composition' used color independently of architectural structure.
Entities
Artists
- Walter Gropius
- Theo van Doesburg
- Bruno Taut
- Peter Röhl
- Johannes Itten
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Cornelius van Eesteren
- Gerrit Rietveld
- Adolf Meyer
- Moholy Nagy
- Kurt Schwitters
- Mies van der Rohe
- Jacobus Johannes Oud
- Le Corbusier
- Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi
Institutions
- Bauhaus
- De Stijl
- L'Effort Moderne
- Artribune
Locations
- Weimar
- Germany
- Paris
- France
- Dessau
- Netherlands
- Olanda