Constructivist László Moholy-Nagy.

by Amy@AQ-V on February 15, 2011

Staatliches Bauhaus in Weimar 1919–1923 / Letterpress & lithograph, 1923
by Herbert Bayer and László Moholy-Nagy / MoMA collection

© 2010 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

The Law of Series (Das Gesetz der Serie) / Gelatin silver print (photomontage), 1925
by László Moholy-Nagy / MoMA collection
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Die neue Linie, Februar 1930 / Letterpress
by László Moholy-Nagy / MoMA collection

© 2010 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Untitled from Konstruktionen. Kestnermappe 6 (Constructions. Kestner Portfolio 6)
1923 Lithographs by László Moholy-Nagy / MoMA collection

© 2010 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

L. Moholy-Nagy: Paintings, Drawings, Constructions / Letterpress, c. 1930s
by László Moholy-Nagy / MoMA collection

© 2010 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Photogram / Gelatin silver print, 1925
by László Moholy-Nagy / MoMA collection
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From the Radio Tower, Berlin / Gelatin silver print, 1928
by László Moholy-Nagy / MoMA collection

© 2010 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

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Above are striking 1920s and 1930s works by Constructivist Hungarian-American painter and photographer László Moholy-Nagy (1895–1946). All print works are courtesy of the extensive online MoMA Collection. I encourage you to make the jump to see much more.

Moholy-Nagy made his mark as an instructor at the original Bauhaus in Berlin and later as director of the short-lived New Bauhaus in Chicago. Committed to bringing Bauhaus education to the States, he subsequently established his own institution, The School of Design in Chicago. In 1944 the school’s name was changed to The Institute of Design in Chicago. Three years after Moholy-Nagy’s premature death the school became a department of the Illinois Institute of Technology where it remains today as the direct descendant of Moholy-Nagy’s school.

Throughout his prolific career, Moholy-Nagy embraced new technology having an outspoken affinity for machines and industrialism. His theories in addition to his practical work have continued to be of lasting significance in the fields of art and design. Multi-faceted, Moholy-Nagy was a photographer, painter, graphic designer, typographer, sculptor, writer, teacher and filmmaker. And speaking of film, below I have included a preview of “Design Workshops” created in 1944. This and other digitally remastered Moholy-Nagy films are available on DVD for purchase at the Moholy-Nagy Foundation website, along with postcard reproductions and a wealth of other Moholy-Nagy online resources. Enjoy your visit there.

Also, if you are a fan of photograms and other bold abstract photographic works like myself you do not want to miss the Moholy-Nagy Series (multi-pages) at the George Eastman House. You may also enjoy one or both László Moholy-Nagy: The Photograms and László Moholy-Nagy: The Art of Light books. I was fortunate to take in an extensive photography exhibit last fall that included several of Moholy-Nagy’s photograms (along with Man Ray’s) so am definitely adding these books to my wish list.

Design Workshops preview / see more film previews >>

László Moholy-Nagy originally shot “Design Workshops” as a silent film to which he lectured when he presented the program of the Institute of Design. Now, after many years, his film can be seen again with an added commentary and music.

The film records students, faculty, and projects of the School of the early 1940s. It animates, as only film can, Moholy-Nagy’s two English-language books on Bauhaus education, The New Vision & Vision in Motion.

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