Henryk Berlewi
Poland (1894—1967)
Berlewi studied art in Warsaw, Antwerp and Paris. His initial work was closely linked to the Jewish culture but in 1921 his vision of art shifted toward a purer concept. Soon after he met El Lissitzky, who influenced him and introduced him to Constructivism. In 1923 he moved to Berlin to join avant-garde groups: in this period he experimented with unusual materials, lines and basic colours. In 1924 he created his Machinofacture and published his MecanoFaktura in the Der Sturm magazine. Back in Warsaw he founded Mechano Advertising Bureau and became a member of the Blok Group of Cubists, Constructivists and Suprematists. His work set the foundations for op art.
