Josef Hartwig
Munich, Germany 1880 – Frankfurt, Germany 1955
German sculptor, known for creating a series of wooden chess sets characterized by geometric forms and an essential, minimalist design. His style is an expression of the Bauhaus school of art and design in Weimar, active between 1919 and 1933. Each set model differs from the others, yet all share geometric forms with square bases. The shape of each piece reflects its movement: pawns and rooks move in straight lines and are represented as rectangular prisms; bishops feature diagonal lines; the king combines both straight and diagonal elements; and the knights are L-shaped.
Works on display:
- Reproduction of the set titled “Bauhaus Chess”, chess set, ash and mahogany, 1923