4 - 1930s Trends: A Golden Age of Growth-Bauhaus, Art Deco and De Stijl

Abstract

Although the German Bauhaus, movement of modernist architecture started in 1919 and ended in 1933, its greatest era of influence was clearly in the 1930s and is an example of how intellectual schools of thought predate actual industrial and manufacturing trends. Bauhaus was quite unique in its attempt to unite art, architecture and design, including typography, into one esthetic movement. The Bauhaus color pallet was quite muted and earthy that ranged from a pallet of blues to browns and oranges to dark greens and pale yellows. All of these colors were quite subdued in nature and reflect how the psychology of nature reflects the spirit of space and composition in architecture. Color proves to be key for this composition. Rich and full colors not only rhythmatize and structure the arrangement, but also represent pictorial values in their own right, which are not integrated in a homogeneous whole. Conversely, Piet Mondrian’s artistic movement, De Stijl (The Style) or Neoplasticism, was also born in the earlier 1900s but emerged in the 1930s a defining study in color contrasts employing the primaries, red blue and yellow versus three values of black white and gray. It is generally thought that De Stijl artists were highly inspired by medieval stained glass patterns but the strict primary colors were also in response to the violence of the World War I. In 1937, Surreal artist Salvador Dali and fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli presented surrealistic fashions including the Shoe Hat which was a stiletto-shaped black felt hat with a shocking pink heel. Marlene Dietrich and Wallis Simspon were two style icons of the 1930s for very different reason. Marlene Dietrich defined her own style esthetic, wearing exquisite white gowns and black evening wear as well as men’s clothing in shades of grays and blues. Wallis Simpson was the wife that George VIII chose over his British crown and her style was classic and sophisticated. On her wedding day, she wore silk gown that was styled in a sapphire color that was dubbed, “Wallis Blue” because the color was matched to her eyes. She also wore light blue sueded pumps to complete the ensemble.