Sottsass
A Life in Color: The Radical Vision of Ettore Sottsass Ettore Sottsass, born in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1917, was more than just a designer; he was a cultural provocateur who shattered the conventions of mid-century modernism. His journey began steeped in architectural tradition—his father, also named Ettore Sottsass, was a prominent figure within Italy’s rationalist architecture movement. Growing up in Turin during the rise of Fascism…
The Lifeline
Scroll through Sottsass's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Sottsass's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.
