While both Muthesius and Van de Velde are representatives of the Deutscher Werkbund, they seem to have differing views on the methodology of their organization. Advocating for either a standardization and industrialized approach, or an individual spontaneous creator, both of these men are arguing for a separate entity to take responsibility as the German identity attempts to enter the world stage of art, culture, and production; that being a part of the Werkbund entails a sense of responsibility for laying the foundations of the German movement. While both maintain that their vision of the Werkbund is the best way for Germany as a whole to be recognized, neither mention those outside the Werkbund as influencers or contributors to their work …show more content…
Citing the creative individual as a “burning idealist” who would usher in the globalization of German culture, Van de Velde still believed these creative individuals must be fostered within the confines of the Werkbund. Claiming that “quality is always first created exclusively for a quite limited circle of connoisseurs…” who then begin to influence other potential clientele causing the market for such fine works to be grown via word of mouth. Again, this is a valid strategy, but consolidating the artists, clientele, and strategist within the Werkbund creates such a small, dare I say worldview, that it cannot possibly be considered representative of the German people, rather a curation of production fostered by a select group of individuals. This idea of a small group holding sway of the development of arts and culture for an entire population is not new, in fact, there were several other groups being formed at this time who provide additional insight as to why these groups felt the need to exist. The famed Bloomsbury Group, including figures such as Virginia Wolf, began its formation at the beginning of the 20th century as a separate entity outside the collective national identity in an effort to search for the definitions of truth and beauty in respect to their nation. However, these selective groups were not searching for these definitions in relation to the general populous, rather they were searching for them in relation to their peers, or those who they considered privy to the understanding of these questions. This by no means included the ever-growing working class currently flocking to their cities. Much