Johannes Itten

(Swiss, 1888–1967)

Johannes Itten was a Swiss painter and important teacher at the Bauhaus in Weimar. A believer in mysticism, Itten developed comprehensive color theories which drew on both science and emotion, as evinced in his book The Art of Color (1961). “He who wants to become a master of color must see, feel, and experience each individual color in its many endless combinations with all other colors,” he once explained. “Colors must have a mystical capacity for spiritual expression, without being tied to objects.” Born on November 11, 1888 in Südern-Linden, Switzerland, he was trained as an elementary school teacher as a teenager, where he became interesting in exploring the psychology of individual students. In 1916, while living in Vienna, he met Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus. Gropius invited the artist to become one of the Bauhaus’s earliest instructors alongside Lyonel Feininger in 1919. Itten left the Bauhaus in 1923, after consistently arguing with Gropius about the direction the school take. He went on to open his own school in Berlin, which continued to operate until it was closed by the Nazi regime in 1934. Because of his knowledge of design, he was appointed the director of a textile school in the city of Krefeld. Relocating to Switzerland in 1938, he spent his remaining years writing books and teaching design courses. Itten died on March 25, 1967 in Zürich, Switzerland. Today, the artist’s works are The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, among others.

Johannes Itten Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Johannes Itten (482 results)
Waldrandblumen, pl.2 (from Johannes Itten:..., 1919

Johannes Itten

Waldrandblumen, pl.2 (from Johannes Itten:..., 1919

Sale Date: November 10, 2007

Auction Closed

Gruß und Heil den Herzen welche von dem Licht...

Johannes Itten

Gruß und Heil den Herzen welche von dem Licht...

Sale Date: November 12, 2007

Auction Closed

Desk (+ chair; set of 2), 1928–1930

Johannes Itten

Desk (+ chair; set of 2), 1928–1930

Sale Date: September 27, 2007

Auction Closed

Three seat sofa (+ 4 others; set of 5), 1928–1930

Johannes Itten

Three seat sofa (+ 4 others; set of 5), 1928–1930

Sale Date: September 27, 2007

Auction Closed

Pair of consoles, 1928–1930

Johannes Itten

Pair of consoles, 1928–1930

Sale Date: September 27, 2007

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel (Geometrische Komposition), 1967

Johannes Itten

Ohne Titel (Geometrische Komposition), 1967

Sale Date: September 14, 2007

Auction Closed

Sitzender männlicher Akt, 1919

Johannes Itten

Sitzender männlicher Akt, 1919

Sale Date: September 14, 2007

Auction Closed

Sitzender männlicher Akt, 1919

Johannes Itten

Sitzender männlicher Akt, 1919

Sale Date: June 22, 2007

Auction Closed

Porträt, 1928–1930

Johannes Itten

Porträt, 1928–1930

Sale Date: June 19, 2007

Auction Closed

Kamelie

Johannes Itten

Kamelie

Sale Date: June 19, 2007

Auction Closed

Tauben

Johannes Itten

Tauben

Sale Date: June 19, 2007

Auction Closed

Träumende

Johannes Itten

Träumende

Sale Date: June 19, 2007

Auction Closed

Mutti Bübi, 1921

Johannes Itten

Mutti Bübi, 1921

Sale Date: June 19, 2007

Auction Closed

Johannes Itten. 10 Originallithographien..., 1919

Johannes Itten

Johannes Itten. 10 Originallithographien..., 1919

Sale Date: June 14, 2007

Auction Closed

I ist Freude, 1971

Johannes Itten

I ist Freude, 1971

Sale Date: June 6, 2007

Auction Closed

Bowl, 1914

Johannes Itten

Bowl, 1914

Sale Date: May 4, 2007

Auction Closed

Grün-Rot-Gelb-Komposition, 1966

Johannes Itten

Grün-Rot-Gelb-Komposition, 1966

Sale Date: April 28, 2007

Auction Closed

Spruch, pl. 3 (from Bauhaus-Drucke: Neue..., 1921

Johannes Itten

Spruch, pl. 3 (from Bauhaus-Drucke: Neue..., 1921

Sale Date: March 30, 2007

Auction Closed

Komposition, pl. 8 (from Johannes Itten: 10..., 1919

Johannes Itten

Komposition, pl. 8 (from Johannes Itten: 10..., 1919

Sale Date: March 30, 2007

Auction Closed

Waldrandblumen, pl. 2 (from Sommer 1919), 1919

Johannes Itten

Waldrandblumen, pl. 2 (from Sommer 1919), 1919

Sale Date: December 8, 2006

Auction Closed

Komposition Schrift, 1919

Johannes Itten

Komposition Schrift, 1919

Sale Date: December 9, 2006

Auction Closed

Weiblicher Halbakt, 1917–1918

Johannes Itten

Weiblicher Halbakt, 1917–1918

Sale Date: December 9, 2006

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel (portfolio of 9 w/2 index pages)

Johannes Itten

Ohne Titel (portfolio of 9 w/2 index pages)

Sale Date: November 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Bergsee, 1936

Johannes Itten

Bergsee, 1936

Sale Date: December 5, 2006

Auction Closed

English (US)

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