Born in Berlin in 1899, Anni Albers, artist, designer, and educator, quickly encountered the gender prejudices that reigned in 1920s Germany. Yet, she knew how to take advantage of all the constraints to turn them into a force in the service of the construction of an art that she dreamed of as timeless. Between two continents and two modernities, from the Bauhaus in Germany to Black Mountain College in the United States, she revolutionized the art of weaving and redefined the boundaries between art and design.
Still linked, at the beginning of the 20th century century to women's work and what could be called a "feminine sensibility", domestic crafts, furnishing art, ornamentation and surface, weaving practices are based on systems of rules and codes. Anni Albers invents a tactile-textile language, abstract, functional and sensual, escaping traditional classifications.
This first major monograph devoted to the textile work of Anni Albers brings a new perspective on the history of modern art through the prism of textile creations and practices.
Why should we be interested in this modern history of textile forms today? Precisely because, in an era of profound cultural transformations, they offer a multitude of possible forks in the road and untrodden historical paths.
Both a detailed portrait of a major artist of the 20th century century and a dense and structured essay, this book constitutes an essential gateway for anyone wishing to explore the fascinating world of Anni Albers, her contribution to modern art and design, and the richness of her artistic legacy.