influences
El Lissitzky's Proun
Jan's work was heavily influenced by The Bauhaus style. The Bauhaus was founded in Germany in 1919 and was a school of thought that proclaimed the combination and integration of varied fine art and design principles and education techniques (including architecture, sculpture, and painting) was the ideal mixture for creative expression.
Tschichold was also influenced by the work of László Moholy-Nagy and El Lissitzky, both modern style painters who displayed contrasting balance and conflict using contrasting forms.
By applying these influences to his typography and design work, Tschichold discovered his "new topography" style and became a pioneer in elementary and functional design.