Modernists Abroad

Deutscher Werkbund Exhibition, Grand Palais; Paris, France

In Paris, Alfred Barr and Philip Johnson visited the Grand Palais in June 1930 to see the Deutscher Werkbund exhibition. They were captivated by an installation and furniture designs by former Bauhaus Masters. It included Marcel Breuer’s B32 side chair, seen here, at the far left of an exhibition installation photo, and again below. Johnson purchased furniture as a wedding gift for the recently married Barrs.

He wrote to his mother: “The German show of furniture here is so wonderful that I am importing a whole set of it.” Even Barr said the Bauhaus design exhibition was more exciting than the exhibition of modern painting.

© Estate of Herbert Bayer / SOCAN (2019).

Watch the video

Black-and-white exhibition installation view showing a series of different side chairs, including Breuer's B32 chair, mounted up the walls in a corner of the gallery.

The collection

Cantilevered chair with a tubular steel frame and woven cane seat and back.

1928

Chair, B32

Designed by: Marcel Breuer (1902–1981)

Material: Chromium-plated steel, beech, cane

Produced by: Gebrüder Thonet, Frankenberg, Germany

Dimensions: 81.3 x 45.7 x 54.3 cm

Transcription

0:00:00 – 0:00:09

The city of Berlin is highlighted by a luminous circle on an old map on the left side of the image. The map moves to simulate a movement from Berlin to Paris. At the same time a black and white video shows images of a moving train. The sound of a moving train plays in the background. France is written in white on a black background in the center of the image.

0:00:13 – 0:00:35

The city of Paris is highlighted by a luminous circle on an old map on the left side of the image. The map is replaced by a more detailed and colourful map of Paris. On the right side of the image, black and white videos play ; men lifting suitcases, cars on the move, the terrace of a busy restaurant and popular streets of Paris. Music and city sounds play.

0:00:35 – 0:00:40

A detailed and colourful map of the city of Paris highlights the location of the Deutscher Verknund. Deutscher Verknund is written in white on a black background in the center of the image. Music is playing.

0:00:40 – 0:00:46

A photo shows the architectural plans of a Deutscher Verknund room on the left side of the image. On the right side of the image, a black and white photo shows the final result of the room that is on the architectural plan. Music is playing.

0:00:46 – 0:01:05

A black and white photograph of Deutscher Verknund’s architect appears on the left side of the image. He sits at a coffee table with another man. On the right side of the image a black and white photo shows the model of the Deutscher Verknund. Music is playing.