Vienna Secession
At the end of the 19th century, many artists in Vienna were dissatisfied with how art was judged and presented. Feeling a lack of freedom for art numerous artists resigned from the Association of Austrian Artists. They formed their group known as the Vienna Secession, also known as the Union of Austrian Artists.
Founded on 3 April 1897, the group of artists, designers, and architects set new goals including sharing ideas, and contacting, and working with other artists outside Austria. Avoiding nationalism, they wanted to create a ‘Total Art’ that unified painting, architecture, and decorative arts. Their official magazine called ‘Ver Sacrum’ published highly stylised and influential works of graphic art.
At the first assembly, Gustav Klimt was elected president, and a discussion was held about the location and design of a new exhibition building. Joseph Maria Olbrich, a young architect, was elected and commissioned to design the new building. Unfortunately, the Vienna City Council dismissed the plans for building a grand exhibition building on Ring Street. Joseph Maria Olbrich drew up new plans that had to be modified several times to meet the council’s requirements. An agreement was made that a provisional building could be erected on Friedrich Street but only for ten years. The cornerstone was laid on April 28, 1898, and the building was completed 6 months later. Josef Hoffmann became the principal designer of exhibitions at the Secession House. The dome and stylized facade became a symbol of the movement.
As the first contemporary art gallery in Vienna, a lot of European art was exhibited including the famous French impressionists Degas, Monet, and Renoir and events were very popular with the Viennese public.
The 14th Secession exhibition, in 1902, was dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven. A statue of Beethoven by Max Klinger stood at the centre, with Klimt’s now-famous Beethoven Frieze (that can still be seen today!) mounted around it.
The group’s harmony became disrupted in 1903, as two members Hoffmann and Moser founded the ‘Wiener Werkstätte’ with a plan to reform arts and crafts. The disputes about the organisation, and the resulting failure of the world exhibition in St Louis in 1904 led to more anarchy within the group. Meetings and decisions could not be agreed upon and on 14 June 1905, Klimt, Hoffmann, Moser, and a group of other artists resigned from the Secession.
The Secession continued to function successfully without all its founders until the outbreak of World War II when the building was destroyed as a symbol of degenerate art. The building was rebuilt in its original style after the war and Hoffmann returned and was elected president from 1948 -1950.
The Secession continues to follow its original values and has become a major attraction for fans of contemporary art in Vienna.
