ColApImg_thumb1
Egon SCHIELE
Austria 1890–1918
Self-portrait with hands on chest 1910
charcoal, watercolour and gouache
44.8 x 31.2 cm
Kunsthaus Zug, Stiftung Sammlung Kamm
ColApImg_thumb2
Josef HOFFMANN (designer)
Austria 1870–1956
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE, Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria 1903–32
Eugen PFLAUMER (goldsmith)
Austria active c.1908
Brooch (Model no. G 362) 1905 designed, 1911 manufactured
silver, gold, carnelian, coral, hematite, jelly opal, lapis lazuli, moonstone, sapphire
(5.1 x 5.1 x 1.4 cm)
Asenbaum Collection, London
© Asenbaum Photo Archive
ColApImg_thumb3
Gustav KLIMT
Austria 1862–1918
Fritza Riedler 1906
oil on canvas
152.0 x 134.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_thumb4
Josef HOFFMANN (designer); J. & J. KOHN, Vienna (manufacturer)
Adjustable-back chair (1908)
(Sitzmaschine)
ebonised Beech (Fagus sp.), plywood, steel
(a-b) 110.8 x 68.1 x 83.7 cm (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of Jardine Matheson Australia, Fellow, 1983
D17.a-b-1983
© Estate of Josef Hoffmann
ColApImg_thumb5
Gustav Klimt
AustGustav Klimt
Austria 1862–1918
Emilie Flöge 1902 (detail)
oil on canvas
178.0 x 80.0 cm
Wien Museum, Vienna
ColApImg_thumb6
Koloman MOSER (designer)
Austria-Hungary 1868-1918
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE, Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria-Hungary 1903-32
Flower basket (Model no. S 781) 1906
silver
21.3 x 7.2 x 4.3 cm
Asenbaum Collection
ColApImg_thumb7
Gustav KLIMT
Austria 1862–1918
Italian garden landscape 1913
oil on canvas
110.0 x 110.0 cm
Kunsthaus Zug, Stiftung Sammlung Kamm
ColApImg_thumb8
Koloman MOSER
Austria 1868–1918
Self-portrait c.1916–17
oil painting on canvas on cardboard
74.0 x 50.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_thumb9
Gustav KLIMT
Austria 1862–1918
Baby (Cradle) 1917–18
oil on canvas
110.9 x 110.4 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Gift of Otto and Franciska Kallir with the help of the Carol and Edwin Gaines Fullinwider Fund

A little over 100 years ago in Vienna, Austria, a group of radical young creators and thinkers overturned all the rules and created a brave new world. Vienna: Art & Design explores this extraordinary period, bringing together some 300 works by the greatest Viennese artists of the early twentieth century.

Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century was the capital of a vast Austro-Hungarian Empire that stretched from Italy to Russia.

It was highly conservative but also opulent, elegant and daring. Casting aside outmoded social manners and moralities, private life became public spectacle. Cabarets, coffee-houses and nightclubs teemed with artistic abandon and radical debate.

And there was much to debate as the city was bursting with new ideas and beliefs. In 1899, Sigmund Freud published his theories on the interpretation of dreams and was developing the new discipline of psychoanalysis. In the same year, Max Planck presented his theory on quantum physics. Ernst Mach invented the philosophy of sensations. Wittgenstein developed logic and linguistic philosophy. Mahler and Schoenberg were astounding audiences with their radical innovations in music.

Science, psychology, literature, politics, music, fashion, the visual arts and architecture – in all these fields of endeavour, public debate raged in the quest to find a voice that was true for modern life.

Artists Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele and architects Josef Hoffmann and Adolf Loos were central to this artistic revolution, known as the Vienna Secession, which transformed Vienna into a dynamic metropolis at the forefront of ground-breaking ideas.

Hoffmann’s and Loos’s lucid visions for modern liveable homes, public buildings and furniture were aligned with the artisans of the Wiener Werksätte who created chic designs for every conceivable object of daily use, laying the foundations of the modern industrial look.

This inventive new world, which embraced extreme rationality in its architecture and design, equally encompassed the irrational and dark side of human nature. Morally and artistically radical, Klimt’s allegories about the forces of life in his Beethoven Frieze used ancient symbols to present new truths about human aspiration, while Schiele reflected the uncertainties of identity in a modern world through his sexually explicit, angst-ridden drawings.

Exhibition highlights

ColApImg_EXHI013493
Egon SCHIELE
Austria 1890–1918
Self-portrait with hands on chest 1910
charcoal, watercolour and gouache
44.8 x 31.2 cm
Kunsthaus Zug, Stiftung Sammlung Kamm
ColApImg_EXHI012197
Gustav KLIMT
Austria 1862–1918
Fritza Riedler 1906
oil on canvas
152.0 x 134.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_EXHI013492
Egon SCHIELE
Austria-Hungary 1890–1918
Portrait of the painter Hans Massmann 1909
oil and metallic paint on canvas
120.0 x 110.0 cm
Kunsthaus Zug
Stiftung Sammlung Kamm
ColApImg_EXHI013309
Koloman MOSER (designer)
Austria-Hungary 1868-1918
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE, Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria-Hungary 1903-32
Flower basket (Model no. S 781) 1906
silver
21.3 x 7.2 x 4.3 cm
Asenbaum Collection
ColApImg_EXHI014746
Josef HOFFMANN (designer)
Austria-Hungary 1870–1956
WÜRBEL & CZOKALLY (CARL WÜRBEL), Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria-Hungary 1892–1913
VINZENZ MAYER’S SÖHNE, Vienna (retailer)
Austria-Hungary 1810–1922
Sports trophy 1902
silver, gilt, malachite
26.0 x 7.1 cm diameter
Private collection
© Josef Hoffmann Estate
ColApImg_EXHI012867
George MINNE
Belgium 1866-1941
Kneeling youth 1898
plaster
79.5 x 19.4 x 44.3 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, NGV Women’s Association to commemorate their 50th Anniversary and the 150th Anniversary of the NGV and with the assistance of the proceeds of the National Gallery of Victoria Annual Dinners, 2011 (2011.10)
Licensed by VISCOPY, Australia
ColApImg_EXHI014728
Egon SCHIELE
Self-portrait with peacock waistcoat, standing 1911
gouache, watercolour and crayon
51.5 x 34.5 cm
Private collection
ColApImg_EXHI014224
Oskar KOKOSCHKA
Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/England 1886-1980
Conte Verona (1910)
oil on canvas
70.6 x 58.7 cm
Private collection, New York
Approved: Licensed by VISCOPY, Australia
ColApImg_EXHI012902
Otto WAGNER (designer)
Austria 1841–1918
Alexander ALBERT (manufacturer)
Austria active c.1904
Chair for Dr Karl Lueger 1904
Rosewood (Dalbergia sp.), mother-of-pearl, leather
98.5 x 63 x 59.5 cm
Wien Museum, Vienna
Estate of Karl Lueger, 1910
Enver Hirsch
ColApImg_EXHI014616
Unknown
Gustav Mahler conducts his Symphony No. 1 in D major
Cartoon from Wiener Illustrated Front Page of 25 November 1900
Photo: Imagno
IMAGNO/Austrian Archives
ColApImg_EXHI012199
Gustav KLIMT
Austria 1862–1918
Johanna Staude 1917–18
oil on canvas
70.0 x 50.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_EXHI012200
Koloman MOSER
Austria 1868–1918
Self-portrait c.1916–17
oil painting on canvas on cardboard
74.0 x 50.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_EXHI012201
Oskar KOKOSCHKA
The painter Carl Moll 1861-1945 1913
oil on canvas
128.0 x 95.5 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
Approved: Licensed by VISCOPY, Australia
ColApImg_EXHI014409
Koloman MOSER (designer)
Austria 1868-1918
Plate from Flächen Schmuck series, published in Die Quelle 1901
26 x 30
National Gallery of Australia Research Library
ColApImg_EXHI014461
Koloman MOSER (designer)
Austria 1868-1918
Plate from Flächen Schmuck series, published in Die Quelle 1901
26 x 30
National Gallery of Australia Research Library
ColApImg_EXHI013996
Dagobert PECHE (designer)
Austria 1887–1923
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE, Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria 1903–1932
Jewel box (S 4880) 1920
silver-gilt
38.4 x 19.7 x 12.7 cm
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Anonymous gift, 1978
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Art Resource, New York
ColApImg_EXHI013493 Egon SCHIELE
Austria 1890–1918
Self-portrait with hands on chest 1910
charcoal, watercolour and gouache
44.8 x 31.2 cm
Kunsthaus Zug, Stiftung Sammlung Kamm
ColApImg_EXHI012197 Gustav KLIMT
Austria 1862–1918
Fritza Riedler 1906
oil on canvas
152.0 x 134.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_EXHI013492 Egon SCHIELE
Austria-Hungary 1890–1918
Portrait of the painter Hans Massmann 1909
oil and metallic paint on canvas
120.0 x 110.0 cm
Kunsthaus Zug
Stiftung Sammlung Kamm
ColApImg_EXHI013309 Koloman MOSER (designer)
Austria-Hungary 1868-1918
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE, Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria-Hungary 1903-32
Flower basket (Model no. S 781) 1906
silver
21.3 x 7.2 x 4.3 cm
Asenbaum Collection
ColApImg_EXHI014746 Josef HOFFMANN (designer)
Austria-Hungary 1870–1956
WÜRBEL & CZOKALLY (CARL WÜRBEL), Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria-Hungary 1892–1913
VINZENZ MAYER’S SÖHNE, Vienna (retailer)
Austria-Hungary 1810–1922
Sports trophy 1902
silver, gilt, malachite
26.0 x 7.1 cm diameter
Private collection
© Josef Hoffmann Estate
ColApImg_EXHI012867 George MINNE
Belgium 1866-1941
Kneeling youth 1898
plaster
79.5 x 19.4 x 44.3 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, NGV Women’s Association to commemorate their 50th Anniversary and the 150th Anniversary of the NGV and with the assistance of the proceeds of the National Gallery of Victoria Annual Dinners, 2011 (2011.10)
Licensed by VISCOPY, Australia
ColApImg_EXHI014728 Egon SCHIELE
Self-portrait with peacock waistcoat, standing 1911
gouache, watercolour and crayon
51.5 x 34.5 cm
Private collection
ColApImg_EXHI014224 Oskar KOKOSCHKA
Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/England 1886-1980
Conte Verona (1910)
oil on canvas
70.6 x 58.7 cm
Private collection, New York
Approved: Licensed by VISCOPY, Australia
ColApImg_EXHI012902 Otto WAGNER (designer)
Austria 1841–1918
Alexander ALBERT (manufacturer)
Austria active c.1904
Chair for Dr Karl Lueger 1904
Rosewood (Dalbergia sp.), mother-of-pearl, leather
98.5 x 63 x 59.5 cm
Wien Museum, Vienna
Estate of Karl Lueger, 1910
Enver Hirsch
ColApImg_EXHI014616 Unknown
Gustav Mahler conducts his Symphony No. 1 in D major
Cartoon from Wiener Illustrated Front Page of 25 November 1900
Photo: Imagno
IMAGNO/Austrian Archives
ColApImg_EXHI012199 Gustav KLIMT
Austria 1862–1918
Johanna Staude 1917–18
oil on canvas
70.0 x 50.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_EXHI012200 Koloman MOSER
Austria 1868–1918
Self-portrait c.1916–17
oil painting on canvas on cardboard
74.0 x 50.0 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
ColApImg_EXHI012201 Oskar KOKOSCHKA
The painter Carl Moll 1861-1945 1913
oil on canvas
128.0 x 95.5 cm
Belvedere, Vienna
Approved: Licensed by VISCOPY, Australia
ColApImg_EXHI014409 Koloman MOSER (designer)
Austria 1868-1918
Plate from Flächen Schmuck series, published in Die Quelle 1901
26 x 30
National Gallery of Australia Research Library
ColApImg_EXHI014461 Koloman MOSER (designer)
Austria 1868-1918
Plate from Flächen Schmuck series, published in Die Quelle 1901
26 x 30
National Gallery of Australia Research Library
ColApImg_EXHI013996 Dagobert PECHE (designer)
Austria 1887–1923
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE, Vienna (manufacturer)
Austria 1903–1932
Jewel box (S 4880) 1920
silver-gilt
38.4 x 19.7 x 12.7 cm
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Anonymous gift, 1978
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Art Resource, New York

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Film and music credits
  • To download full credits (RTF) click here.
  • To purchase this and other Sydney Symphony Mahler recordings conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy, click here.
  • Mahler's 9th symphony with special thanks to Philharmonia Orchestra, London. Click here for more.
  • Kindertotenlieder (Rückert): V: In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus by Gustav Mahler. Performed by Dame Janet Baker and Hallé Orchestra. Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. Licensed by EMI Music, Australia.
  • Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op.125. Music by Ludwig van Beethoven. Words by Friedrich Schiller. Performed by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Orchestra. Conducted by Antony Walker. Licensed by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia.
  • Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer) by Gustav Mahler. Performed by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy. Licensed by Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australia.
  • Symphony No. 1 in D major 'Titan' by Gustav Mahler. Performed by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy. Licensed by Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australia.
  • Symphony No. 9 by Gustav Mahler. Performed by Philharmonia Orchestra, London. Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Licensed by Philharmonia Orchestra, London.
  • Kennedy, Michael. The Master Musicians - Mahler J M Dent and Sons Ltd, 1974
  • Mahler, Alma. Mitchell, Donald and Martner, Knud, eds. Gustav Mahler: Memories and Letters. Cardinal, 1990
  • Lebrecht, Norman. Why Mahler? How One Man and Ten Symphonies Changed the World. Faber and Faber, 2010
  • Ross, Alex. The Rest is Noise. Listening to the Twentieth Century. Picador 2007
  • La Grange, Henry-Louise de, Gunther Weiss, Knud Martner, eds. Gustav Mahler Letters to His Wife. Faber and Faber, 2004
  • La Grange, Henry-Louise de, Mahler-Symphonies-Notes: Henry-Louis de La Grange - Symphony No. 9.

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