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)
Begonien, 1937

Johannes Itten

Begonien, 1937

Sale Date: June 13, 2023

Auction Closed

Baumstudie, 1952

Johannes Itten

Baumstudie, 1952

Sale Date: June 13, 2023

Auction Closed

Zeichen auf Rot-Orange-Gelb-Blau (Grosse..., 1962

Johannes Itten

Zeichen auf Rot-Orange-Gelb-Blau (Grosse..., 1962

Sale Date: June 15, 2023

Auction Closed

Frauenakt

Johannes Itten

Frauenakt

Sale Date: April 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Tagebuch Beiträge zu einem Kontrapunkt der...

School of Johannes Itten

Tagebuch Beiträge zu einem Kontrapunkt der...

Sale Date: November 3, 2022

Auction Closed

Fisch

Johannes Itten

Fisch

Sale Date: November 4, 2022

Auction Closed

Felder und Bäume bei Sion, 1946

Johannes Itten

Felder und Bäume bei Sion, 1946

Sale Date: June 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Ritterspornthema I, 1964

Johannes Itten

Ritterspornthema I, 1964

Sale Date: June 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Mädchen in Rot, 1936

Johannes Itten

Mädchen in Rot, 1936

Sale Date: June 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Rhonetal bei Sion, 1946

Johannes Itten

Rhonetal bei Sion, 1946

Sale Date: June 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Dark Ribbon, 1957

Johannes Itten

Dark Ribbon, 1957

Sale Date: June 30, 2022

Auction Closed

Blaugrün-Orange-Braun, 1954

Johannes Itten

Blaugrün-Orange-Braun, 1954

Sale Date: June 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1960–1969

Johannes Itten

Untitled, 1960–1969

Sale Date: February 23, 2022

Auction Closed

Studie (Musik), 1917–1999

Johannes Itten

Studie (Musik), 1917–1999

Sale Date: February 23, 2022

Auction Closed

Studie für Eva-Plastik (Study for Eva Plastic), 1918

Johannes Itten

Studie für Eva-Plastik (Study for Eva Plastic), 1918

Sale Date: April 7, 2022

Auction Closed

Abstract composition

Johannes Itten

Abstract composition

Sale Date: December 16, 2021

Auction Closed

«Kreise und Quadrate»., 1963

Johannes Itten

«Kreise und Quadrate»., 1963

Sale Date: November 19, 2021

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1965

Johannes Itten

Untitled, 1965

Sale Date: September 9, 2021

Auction Closed

Blaue Vase, 1935

Johannes Itten

Blaue Vase, 1935

Sale Date: September 16, 2021

Auction Closed

Bäume (Sigriswill), 1944

Johannes Itten

Bäume (Sigriswill), 1944

Sale Date: August 8, 2021

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel, 1960

Johannes Itten

Ohne Titel, 1960

Sale Date: June 10, 2021

Auction Closed

Abstrakte Komposition, 1962

Johannes Itten

Abstrakte Komposition, 1962

Sale Date: June 10, 2021

Auction Closed

Abstract-geometric composition, 1922

Johannes Itten

Abstract-geometric composition, 1922

Sale Date: June 9, 2021

Auction Closed

Häuser im Frühling, 1916

Johannes Itten

Häuser im Frühling, 1916

Sale Date: March 24, 2021

Auction Closed

English (US)

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