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.

For updates on exhibitions and auctions featuring Peter Behrens's work, sign up for our newsletter. Stay informed about new discoveries, sales, and events related to this pivotal figure in modern architecture and design.

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

Now at the auction Peter Behrens

All lots
1 lot
put up for auction
See auction lots

Creators Germany

Werner Scholz (1898 - 1982)
Werner Scholz
1898 - 1982
Thomas Hartmann (1950)
Thomas Hartmann
1950
Heinrich Gogarten (1850 - 1911)
Heinrich Gogarten
1850 - 1911
Elsa Hildegard von Freytag-Loringhoven (Plötz) (1874 - 1927)
Elsa Hildegard von Freytag-Loringhoven (Plötz)
1874 - 1927
Hans Reichel (1892 - 1958)
Hans Reichel
1892 - 1958
August Lucas (1803 - 1863)
August Lucas
1803 - 1863
Ernst Oppler (1867 - 1929)
Ernst Oppler
1867 - 1929
 XOOOOX (1979)
XOOOOX
1979
Linn Schröder (1977)
Linn Schröder
1977
Hans Steinbrenner (1928 - 2008)
Hans Steinbrenner
1928 - 2008
August Friedrich Siegert (1820 - 1883)
August Friedrich Siegert
1820 - 1883
Anton Klamroth (1860 - 1929)
Anton Klamroth
1860 - 1929
George Guraspashvili (1959)
George Guraspashvili
1959
Carlo Mense (1886 - 1965)
Carlo Mense
1886 - 1965
Matthäus Günther (1705 - 1788)
Matthäus Günther
1705 - 1788
Wilhelm von Bemmel (1630 - 1708)
Wilhelm von Bemmel
1630 - 1708

Creators Constructivism

Efrosinia Fedoseevna Ermilova-Platova (1895 - 1974)
Efrosinia Fedoseevna Ermilova-Platova
1895 - 1974
Enrique Tàbara (1930 - 2021)
Enrique Tàbara
1930 - 2021
Giancarlo Piretti (1940)
Giancarlo Piretti
1940
Vera Idelson (1893 - 1977)
Vera Idelson
1893 - 1977
Louis Lozowick (1892 - 1973)
Louis Lozowick
1892 - 1973
Ulrich Paul Wieser (1927 - 2020)
Ulrich Paul Wieser
1927 - 2020
Jean Pierre Raynaud (1939)
Jean Pierre Raynaud
1939
Mahirwan Mamtani (1935)
Mahirwan Mamtani
1935
Carel Visser (1928 - 2015)
Carel Visser
1928 - 2015
Yngve Holen (1982)
Yngve Holen
1982
Emile Lahner (1893 - 1980)
Emile Lahner
1893 - 1980
Helmuth Macke (1891 - 1936)
Helmuth Macke
1891 - 1936
Gonzalo Fonseca (1922 - 1997)
Gonzalo Fonseca
1922 - 1997
Paul (Pavel Andreevich) Mansouroff (Mansurov) (1896 - 1983)
Paul (Pavel Andreevich) Mansouroff (Mansurov)
1896 - 1983
Andreu Alfaro (1929 - 2012)
Andreu Alfaro
1929 - 2012
Kenneth Martin (1905 - 1984)
Kenneth Martin
1905 - 1984
× Create a Search Subscription