Impact

*Josef Albers' impact on color theory can be seen in almost every painting and piece of art done today. His color theories are the basis for many color schemes used in art. His color theories explain how colors can cause vibrations and movement, which many artists use at some point or another and many artists of the past used even before the Principles of Color Interaction were outlined.

Social Existence

*World War I began in 1914 and lasted for 5 years and Germany was in the center of the suffering Central Powers

*The German Revolution in 1918 began a new republic, with the signing of the Weimar Constitution

*The German Communist Party was formed in 1918 and the German Workers Party, later known as the National Socialist Party of Germany or Nazi Party was formed in January of 1919

*During this time, Albers would have been nearly thiry and suffering through the great depression caused by the Treaty of Versaille as was the rest of Germany

*On February 27, 1933 the Reichstag was set on fire and is widely known as the begginning of the rise of the Third Reich and eventual takeover of Germany by Hitler

Josef Albers(c.1926)

*Josef Albers' studied at the Bauhaus during this time and in 1933, the Nazi party closed the Bauhuas at which time Albers emigrated to America

*Josef Albers was alive during World War I, World War II, Vietnam, saw the production of new technology such as the Polaroid camera, the color TV, the first commercial jet "Comet" and the Boeing 707, first electronic computer, and many other things. He was alive during some of the World's hardest times and also the most advancing times.

Other Fields

*In 1949, Joesef Albers' began the series, the Homage to a Square which although the paintings exploited his color priciples, today these paintings are seen as fine art and are highly collectible

*He collaborated with Yale professor and architect King-lui Wu in creating decorative designs for geometric fireplaces that Wu was working on for the Rouse (1954)and DuPont(1959)houses

*During the 60's, he also designed abstract album covers for band leader's Enoch Light's Command LP

*In 1971, Albers founded the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, a non-profit organization that Albers hoped would be able to further "the revelation and evocation of vision through art" and is located in Bethany, Connecticut

*During his time at the Bauhuas, Albers was the director of the furniture workshop, where he designed furniture that used very geometric shapes and color that were orignally created for the Moellenhof house in Berlin; they have since been re-produced