Peter Behrens (1868 - 1940) - photo 1

Peter Behrens

Peter Behrens was a seminal figure in modern design and architecture, heralded as the first industrial designer and a pioneer in modernist architecture. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Behrens's influence spanned across various domains, including architecture, industrial design, and graphic design. His holistic design approach was revolutionary, encompassing everything from architectural projects to corporate identities.

Behrens's association with AEG (Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft) marked a significant chapter in his career. Hired as an artistic consultant in 1907, he crafted a comprehensive corporate identity for AEG, including the iconic AEG Turbine Factory (1909), a hallmark of industrial classicism and modernism. This work is celebrated for its pioneering approach to industrial architecture and design, integrating form and function with unprecedented clarity and coherence​​​​.

His architectural ventures displayed a versatility and an evolution of style, from the monumental, stripped classical form seen in the German Embassy in St Petersburg (1912) and the Administration Building for Continental AG in Hannover (1912-1914), to the expressive Brick Expressionism of the Technical Administration Building of Hoechst AG in Frankfurt (1920-1924)​​. Behrens's work in the 1920s, including the design for the 'New Ways' house in Northampton, UK, and contributions to the Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart, underscored his shift towards New Objectivity and modernist principles​​.

Moreover, Behrens's educational contributions were profound, with his teaching stints at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna influencing a new generation of architects, including luminaries such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and Walter Gropius, who would themselves go on to define the course of 20th-century architecture​​.

Behrens's legacy is a testament to the transformative power of design, illustrating how integrated and forward-thinking approaches can redefine our built environment and the objects we use daily. His work remains an essential study for collectors, experts in art and antiques, and anyone interested in the evolution of modern design and architecture.

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Date and place of birt:14 april 1868, Hamburg, Germany
Date and place of death:27 february 1940, Berlin, Germany
Nationality:Germany
Period of activity: XIX, XX century
Specialization:Architect, Artist, Designer, Illustrator
Art school / group:Düsseldorf school of painting, Munich Secession, Bauhaus
Art style:Constructivism
Behrens, Peter - Now at the auction

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Adolf Amberg (1874 - 1913)
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Hans Seyppel (1886 - 1945)
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John Gleich (1879 - 1927)
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Creators Constructivism

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Louis Lozowick (1892 - 1973)
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Jozsef Egri (1883 - 1951)
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El Lissitzky (1890 - 1941)
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Richard Lippold (1915 - 2002)
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Anton Mikhaylovich Lavinsky (1893 - 1968)
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Adolf Fleischmann (1892 - 1968)
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Curt Stenvert (1920 - 1992)
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Anton Stankowski (1906 - 1998)
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 Hirschi (1947)
Hirschi
1947
Mikhail Fedorovich Andrienko-Nechytailo (1894 - 1982)
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1894 - 1982
Paul Valery (1871 - 1945)
Paul Valery
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Carel Visser (1928 - 2015)
Carel Visser
1928 - 2015
Mark Matthes (1976)
Mark Matthes
1976
Oswaldo Vigas (1923 - 2014)
Oswaldo Vigas
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