KOCH, Alexander, editor.  GROSSHERZOG ERNST LUDWIG UND DIE AUSSTELLUNG DER KUNSTLER-KOLONIE IN DARMSTADT VON MAI BIS OKTOBER 1901.

KOCH, Alexander, editor.  GROSSHERZOG ERNST LUDWIG UND DIE AUSSTELLUNG DER KUNSTLER-KOLONIE IN DARMSTADT VON MAI BIS OKTOBER 1901.  

(Darmstadt: Alexander Koch, 1901). 4to. Publishers decorated printed wrappers. (viii), 9-385, (9) pages, plus 7 colored plates.

A handsome volume issued as a record of the buildings of the artistic community at Dusseldorf, established under the patronage of Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, and thrown open to the public for a six-month exhibition period in 1901.  The community comprised five artists and two architects, J.M. Olbrich and Peter Behrens, each of whom was allotted a house on the exhibition site.  Behrens designed just his own house, a remarkably coherent example of his particular brand of Art Nouveau architecture, while Olbrich designed houses both for himself and for the five resident artists, as well as the communal studio building at the center of the site, known as the Ernst-Ludwig Haus.  Both Olbrich and Behrens made excellent use of this unusual opportunity to design buildings in the most up-to-date architectural style without the normal constraints imposed by clients or finance, and the exhibition was a landmark for German architecture and design at this date.

The present volume is also a valuable record of the works of the artists concerned, all of whom contributed to the internal decoration of their individual houses and of the Ernst-Ludwig Haus (they include Hans Christiansen, Patriz Huber and Paul Burck).  With a photogravure portrait of the Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig, also many photographic plates and text illustrations.  Publishers wrappers, with image on the front cover of a symbolic figure carrying a model of Olbrich's design for the Ernst Ludwig Haus, neatly rebacked (a little defective at upper margin of front cover and at folds of wrappers).  Internally in good condition.

 

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