The modern style that the word minimalism is most associated with was heavily influenced by the Bauhaus School’s ideal of balancing beauty with utility in product design. While not expressly stated as minimalism at this time, this new approach to simplicity is something that we would continue to see evolve for years to come. They held the idealistic view that insight and enlightenment can be gained through solitude and simplicity, such as illustrated in the book Walden.
Here are a few highlights from the past 200 years: 1800-1850: Introducing Simple Living in AmericaĪ transcendentalist philosophy takes hold in America and is popularized by the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.