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)
Aphorism, 1921

Johannes Itten

Aphorism, 1921

Sale Date: June 6, 2018

Auction Closed

Standing Nude, 1925

Johannes Itten

Standing Nude, 1925

Sale Date: June 6, 2018

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel

Johannes Itten

Ohne Titel

Sale Date: May 30, 2018

Auction Closed

Ritterspornthema, 1964

Johannes Itten

Ritterspornthema, 1964

Sale Date: June 14, 2018

Auction Closed

In der Nacht, 1963

Johannes Itten

In der Nacht, 1963

Sale Date: June 14, 2018

Auction Closed

Farbige Rhythmen, 1958

Johannes Itten

Farbige Rhythmen, 1958

Sale Date: June 14, 2018

Auction Closed

Dämmerung, 1958

Johannes Itten

Dämmerung, 1958

Sale Date: June 14, 2018

Auction Closed

Frau Agathe und allen meinen Schülern..., 1919

Johannes Itten

Frau Agathe und allen meinen Schülern..., 1919

Sale Date: December 9, 2017

Auction Closed

Im Wald.

Johannes Itten

Im Wald. "Krefelder Stadtwald, 1935

Sale Date: December 8, 2017

Auction Closed

Zeichen auf Braun, 1962

Johannes Itten

Zeichen auf Braun, 1962

Sale Date: December 9, 2017

Auction Closed

Zweiklang, 1964

Johannes Itten

Zweiklang, 1964

Sale Date: December 9, 2017

Auction Closed

Blau-Rot Modulation, 1964

Johannes Itten

Blau-Rot Modulation, 1964

Sale Date: December 9, 2017

Auction Closed

Haus des weißen Mannes

Johannes Itten

Haus des weißen Mannes

Sale Date: November 2, 2017

Auction Closed

Am Krankenbett, 1921

Johannes Itten

Am Krankenbett, 1921

Sale Date: November 3, 2017

Auction Closed

Studie zum Kinderbild, 1921

Johannes Itten

Studie zum Kinderbild, 1921

Sale Date: November 3, 2017

Auction Closed

Kopfstudie, 1930

Johannes Itten

Kopfstudie, 1930

Sale Date: November 3, 2017

Auction Closed

Valbella. Blick Richtung Rothorn / Valbella. , 1933

Johannes Itten

Valbella. Blick Richtung Rothorn / Valbella. , 1933

Sale Date: November 3, 2017

Auction Closed

Frau Agathe und allen meinen Schülern..., 1919

Johannes Itten

Frau Agathe und allen meinen Schülern..., 1919

Sale Date: June 30, 2017

Auction Closed

Grosse Komposition, 1962

Johannes Itten

Grosse Komposition, 1962

Sale Date: June 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Komposition, 1962

Johannes Itten

Komposition, 1962

Sale Date: June 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Bandförmiges Zeichen, 1967

Johannes Itten

Bandförmiges Zeichen, 1967

Sale Date: June 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Am Walensee, 1939

Johannes Itten

Am Walensee, 1939

Sale Date: June 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Sonnenblumen, 1936

Johannes Itten

Sonnenblumen, 1936

Sale Date: June 15, 2017

Auction Closed

Tagebuch Beitrage zu einem Kontrapunkt der..., 1962

Johannes Itten

Tagebuch Beitrage zu einem Kontrapunkt der..., 1962

Sale Date: May 19, 2017

Auction Closed

English (US)

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