The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
Jennifer Printz "Tracing the Mysteries" Prints, Depth and Entirety Series, 2021
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "Tracing the Mysteries l, ll and lll" is part of a series of three monoprints that blend photography, relief print with chine colle (epson ultrach...
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Jennifer Printz "Lifetimes Alone" Prints, Depth and Entirety Series, 2021
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "Lifetimes Alone l and ll" is part of a series of two monoprints that blend photography, relief print with chine colle (epson ultrachrome inks on ...
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Jennifer Printz "As Within" Prints, Depth and Entirety Series, 2021
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "As Within l, ll and lll" is part of a series of three monoprints that blend photography, relief print with chine colle (epson ultrachrome inks on...
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Jennifer Printz "As in the Heavens" and "And on the Earth Below" Prints, 2013
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "As In The Heavens and And On The Earth Below" hand-printed woodcut on Kozo paper prints are matted and framed in wood with anti-static, non-glare...
Wood, Paper, Plexiglass
Six Round Framed Silk Screen by Edgardo Giménez, Argentina, 1973
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Six round framed silk screen by Edgardo Giménez. Argentina, 1973. The six are hand signed by the artist. -- Detail of each silk screen in order of the...
Glass, Wood, Paper
1957-1962, Rare Georges Braque 'Au Vent d'Arles' Archive Books and Lithographs
Located in Paris, FR
Extremely rare set of Georges Braque archives maquettes books and lithographs created with the publisher 'Au Vent d'Arles', Paris. The set is composed with: - L'Ordre des Oiseaux (...
Paper
The Lithographs of Chagall Vol. IV, Modern Print, Paper, Germany, 1974
By Marc Chagall
Located in London, England
Date: 1974 Lithographer: Fernand Mourlot Materials: Paper German edition published by André Sauret.
Paper
Misia Sert's Bookplate by Pierre Bonnard
Located in New York, NY
Misia Sert, a musical prodigy who once played the piano on Franz List’s knee, grew up to be a beauty, and remained the apogee of chic until she died at seve...
Paper
$1,638Sale Price|20% Off
Joan Miró, "Composition", 1974, Abstract Lithograph Print, signed in plate
By Joan Miró
Located in London, GB
Joan Miró, "Composition", 1974, Lithograph Print, signed in plate. From the book Ceramiques de Miró Artigas. LITERATURE: Mourlot 927 Card mount 75 cm wide x 47.5 cm high. Sheet pr...
Paper
1980s Armando Testa Silk Screen, Eagle with Arthritis Years '80 Production Frair
Located in Biella, IT
Armando Testa silk screen, eagle with arthritis years '80 production Fraire Ita Serigraphie in good vintage condition with light sign of use, Measure 16 inches for side.
Canvas, Masonite
Adja Yunkers "ICON" Lithograph
By Adja Yunkers
Located in New York, NY
Adja Yunkers lithograph titled "ICON", numbered 50/100. Sign and dated 1978. Adja Yunkers (1900-1983) was an abstract painter and printmaker. Recognized and collected internationally...
Wood, Paper
"Eurydice" Limited Edition Archival Print by Louis Shields, 2018
Located in Middleburg, VA
A luminous meditation on movement, memory, and myth, "Eurydice" by Louis Shields is a poignant visual aria drawn from his Dancer Series (2018). In this limited edition archival print...
Paint, Paper
Donald Sultan Black on Orange, 2018
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Beautiful large Donald Sultan print expertly and tastefully framed. Signed, titled and dated and numbered to recto ‘Black and Orange 2018 DS 11/12’. This work is number 11 from ...
Paper
$1,520Sale Price|20% Off
Limited Edition Print by Peter Max "Dega Man"
By Peter Max
Located in Pasadena, TX
Limited edition print by Peter Max Dega Man 1990" Limited edition print : Serigraph on Paper Framed : 18 x 22.50 in Certificate of Authenticity.
Paper
Berecks Framed Garden Print
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Berecks Framed Garden Print This print measures: 15.25 wide x 1 deep x 19.75 inches high This print is in Great Vintage Condition with minor marks, dents, and wear. We take our ph...
Wood, Paper
D. Carney Signed Peacock and Angels Framed Print
Located in Franklin Park, IL
D. Carney Signed Peacock and Angels Framed Print This print measures: 36 wide x 1.75 deep x 36 inches high. This print is in Excellent Vintage Condition with minor marks, dents, an...
Wood, Paper
Greek Figure Framed Print
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Puwamoz Greek Figure Framed Print This print measures: 34.5 wide x 1.75 deep x 40.5 inches high This print is in Great Vintage Condition with minor mar...
Wood, Paper
Mandolin Player Framed Print
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Mandolin Player Framed Print This print measures: 18 wide x 2 deep x 19 inches high This print is in Great Vintage Condition with minor marks, dents, an...
Wood, Paper
Man at Desk Framed Print
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Man at Desk Framed Print This print measures: 18 wide x 2 deep x 19 inches high This print is in Great Vintage Condition with minor marks, dents, and wea...
Wood, Paper
Collage Art, Photo Collage, Contemporary Art, “Untitled”, By Donovan G Davis
Located in Toronto, ON
Donovan Davis’s is a Canadian based artist currently residing in Toronto. He has over two decades dedicated to deconstructing and reconstructing photo based images. His photo collag...
Paper
Monochrome Black Graphic / Lithograph by Jerry Zenuik, Unframed
By Jerry Zeniuk
Located in Hamburg, DE
Monochrome black artwork, lithograph print by Jerry Zenuik. The print is unframed and comes in a roll. It is an early work from 1974. The print is signed and dated in pencil. He was born the son of refugees from the Ukraine in a temporary camp in Bardowick near Lüneburg. His family emigrated to Boulder...
Paper
Bruce McLean, "Spaghetti alle vongole twice" screenprint, 1995
By Bruce McLean
Located in Renens, CH
Bruce McLean, "Spaghetti alle vongole twice" (screenprint, 1995) Sheet height: 59.7cm Sheet width: 79cm Signed in pencil and numbered 500/500. Bruce McLean (born 1944) received hi...
Paper
Italian modern Abstract print acrylic relief texture by Clelia Cortemiglia, 1972
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Abstract print with acrylic relief texture by Clelia Cortemiglia, 1972 Print on cream yellow paper with white acrylic relief texture. The subject is abstract in black ...
Metal
Italian modern colorful marine screen printing by Bruno Contenotte, 1982
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Colorful marine screen printing by Bruno Contenotte, 1982 Screen printing on paper. The painting is divided into two parts, which present the same marine subject in di...
Wood, Paper
Jack Brusca Signed Print 1972
Located in Chicago, IL
Jack Brusca Print 1972 Numbered 131 / 150 Edition Please request additional photos as present photos show reflections and glare in glass. Will be reshooting. Glass has small crac...
Paper
Italian Modern Engraving Print of Priests by Gianfilippo Usellini, 1900-1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Engraving print with color of two priests by Gianfilippo Usellini, 1900-1970s Fantastic Colored print made with the technique of engrav...
Wood, Paper
$256 / item
Wallpaper "Happy Rain", Marta Bakowski
Located in Geneve, CH
Wallpaper "Happy Rain", Marta Bakowski Dimensions: 53 W x 0.2 D x 1000 H cm Materials: Wallpaper (paper quality 150g) Different colors are available Happy rain is a wallpaper f...
Paper
$655Sale Price|60% Off
Mysterious Al 'Untitled (Black)', 2007, Screenprint, signed dated and numbered
Located in London, GB
Mysterious Al, 'Untitled (Black)', 2007 Screenprint in colours on wove paper. Signed, numbered, and dated in pencil along the lower edge, with the publisher's blind stamp Published b...
Paper
$3,059Sale Price|20% Off
Large Scale Joe Tilson, 'Apollo Pythion' 1990, Signed & Dated in Pencil
By Joe Tilson
Located in London, GB
Joe Tilson (British, born 1928), 'Apollo Pythion' 1990. Signed and dated in by the artist in pencil. Artist's proof. Screen print and mixed media, hand embellished by the artist. ...
Paper
1971. Tuan, Poster / Advert
By Archi Design
Located in Perpignan, FR
authentic 70s poster / vintage. Exhbition poster from museum in Paris. design by the artist Tuan. In good condition.
Paper