Les abstractions concrètes d'Anni Albers (1899-1994)

Born in Berlin in 1899, Anni Albers, artist, designer and educator, quickly came up against the gender prejudices that prevailed in 1920s Germany. And yet, she was able to make the most of every constraint, turning them into a force in the construction of an art she dreamed would be timeless. Between two continents and two modernities, from the Bauhaus in Germany to Black Mountain College in the USA, she revolutionized the art of weaving and redefined the boundaries between art and design. At the beginning of the 20th century, weaving practices were still linked to women’s work and to what might be termed a “feminine sensibility” – domestic crafts, the art of furnishing, ornamentation and surface design – and were based on systems of rules and codes. Anni Albers invented a tactile-textile language that was abstract, functional and sensual, escaping traditional classifications.

This first major monograph devoted to the textile work of Anni Albers offers a fresh perspective on the history of modern art through the prism of textile creations and practices. Why take an interest in this modern history of textile forms? Precisely because, at a time of profound cultural transformation, they offer a multiplicity of possible forks in the road and untrodden historical paths. At once a detailed portrait of a major twentieth-century artist and a dense, well-crafted essay, this book is 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.