Herbert Bayer, Graphic Designer

With access to never-before-seen materials, Rössler includes documents, diaries and intimate letters from both Bayer’s first wife, Irene Bayer-Hecht, and his lover, Ise Gropius […] Rather than a sweeping indictment of Bayer’s pragmatism, Rössler takes a nuanced approach to an artist’s dilemma and the choices made for survival in a turbulent political landscape. * Communication Arts * Shining a new light on the life and work of Herbert Bayer, this insightful book makes a vital contribution to our understanding of modernism and the 20th century events that shaped its practitioners, and how this extraordinary designer navigated those complex times. * Robin Schuldenfrei, Reader in 20th Century Modernism, The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, UK * Extensively researched, Rössler’s lively text analyzes Bayer’s artistic, personal, and political journey from the Bauhaus to the US and hits issues head on—addressing difficult questions regarding history, emigration, politics, and biography * Gwen F. Chanzit, Curator Emerita, Denver Art Museum, and Professor Emerita, University of Denver, USA * Gorgeously illustrated and rigorously researched, this book lays bare the crucial missing decade in the life and work of this innovative, influential, and often misunderstood artist. Patrick Rössler’s engaging and unflinching account is a must read for anyone interested in design history and the contradictions of creative life in Nazi Berlin. * Elizabeth Otto, Professor of Modern & Contemporary Art History, the University at Buffalo (SUNY), USA *