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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Creators Germany

Herbert Götzinger (1928 - 1976)
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Rainer Kriester (1935 - 2002)
Rainer Kriester
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Paul Kayser (1869 - 1942)
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Johann Friedrich Overbeck (1789 - 1869)
Johann Friedrich Overbeck
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Herbert Grünwaldt (1928 - 2014)
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Georg Müller (1880 - 1952)
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Dieter Krieg (1937 - 2005)
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Hans Hofmann (1880 - 1966)
Hans Hofmann
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Ludwig von Zumbusch (1861 - 1927)
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Johann Christian Hirt (1836 - 1897)
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Thomas Ritter (1955)
Thomas Ritter
1955
Theodor Baierl (1881 - 1932)
Theodor Baierl
1881 - 1932
Jakob Götzenberger (1802 - 1866)
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F. Oskar Knapp (1914 - 1987)
F. Oskar Knapp
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Walter Müller (1901 - 1975)
Walter Müller
1901 - 1975
Karin Witte (1939)
Karin Witte
1939

Creators Constructivism

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Yngve Holen
1982
Jakub Julian Ziolkowski (1980)
Jakub Julian Ziolkowski
1980
Max Hermann Mahlmann (1912 - 2000)
Max Hermann Mahlmann
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Ron Agam (1958)
Ron Agam
1958
Richard Lippold (1915 - 2002)
Richard Lippold
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Walter Wahlstedt (1898 - 1972)
Walter Wahlstedt
1898 - 1972
Nikolay Nikolayevich Punin (1888 - 1953)
Nikolay Nikolayevich Punin
1888 - 1953
Aleksei Mikhailovich Gan (1887 - 1942)
Aleksei Mikhailovich Gan
1887 - 1942
Robert Michel (1897 - 1983)
Robert Michel
1897 - 1983
Marc Sterling (1895 - 1976)
Marc Sterling
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Antonina Fedorovna Sofronova (1892 - 1966)
Antonina Fedorovna Sofronova
1892 - 1966
Sergio Mazza (1931)
Sergio Mazza
1931
Carl Buchheister (1890 - 1964)
Carl Buchheister
1890 - 1964
Gonzalo Fonseca (1922 - 1997)
Gonzalo Fonseca
1922 - 1997
Joseph Egan (1952)
Joseph Egan
1952
Matthias Goeritz (1915 - 1990)
Matthias Goeritz
1915 - 1990
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