he household items that he devised for manufacture by Berlin-based aeg in the period 1907–1914 were the first ever designed

by an artist. behrens was also significant as a precursor of modernist architecture. Three of the principal architects of the modern movement—walter gropius, mies van der rohe and le corbusier—worked under him. Finally, behrens was one of the age’s most important graphic designers.

T

peter behrens in his office in Berlin, around 1913.

Photo by waldemar titzenthaler

 

Five assistants of peter behrens in the workplace—mies van der rohe,

meyer, hertwig, weyrather, chandler, walter gropius, 1908