PP160 The Wiener Werkstätte: Its Creation and Legacy

Webinar Description

Thursday, May 18, 2023
1:00pm - 3:00pm Eastern US

Join us on a fascinating journey back to the early 20th century! 

In 1897, the renowned Vienna School of Fine Arts experienced a significant shake-up as many of its top faculty members, including Josef Hoffman, Koloman Moser, and the legendary Gustav Klimt, demanded change and modernism be introduced into the curriculum. Thus, the Vienna Secessionists were born. 

Fast forward to 1903, and Hoffman, Moser, and Fritz Waerndorf founded ‘The Wiener Werkstätte’, an organization with the noble goals of reforming the applied arts through education and training, establishing direct contact with artists and artisans, and promoting the economic interests of its members. 

In this webinar, we'll delve into the factors that led to the emergence of modernism, which was designing a new world throughout Europe in the early 20th century. We'll also discuss the genius of Klimt and mosaic artist Leopold Forester, and how their innovative approach to portraiture revolutionized the art world in the early 1900s. 

We'll take a closer look at the Purkersdorf Sanatorium, which boasts a handsome exterior and a revolutionary interior design, and we'll explore how the decorative arts were successfully integrated with fine arts, leading to the valuation of both within the same price range. 

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of modernism and its impact on the world of art and design!

Please note: this webinar will feature a pre-recorded session, as well as a live question and answer session.

Webinar Audience

Anyone - appraisers, students, faculty and retired persons - who is interested in the arts or fine & decorative arts, and who enjoys history.

General Webinar Information

Important login information will be e-mailed to registrants prior to the webinar. 

System Requirements

To ensure the best ASA webinar experience, be sure to download the Zoom app on your device before the webinar begins.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

This webinar will award 2.4 CE hours.

If you are a designated member of the American Society of Appraisers, CE credit will automatically be entered into your record ONLY if you participate in the live webinar. Please allow approximately 2 weeks post-webinar for ASA to notify participants via email regarding a certificate of completion.

Learning Outcomes

This webinar will:

• define what led to "modernism" designing a new world throughout Europe in the early 20th century
• discuss the genius of Klimt and mosaic artist Leopold Forester and how it led to a change in portraiture in the early 1900s
• describe the Purkersdorf Sanatorium, its handsome exterior, and its revolutionary interior
• describe how the decorative arts were successfully integrated with fine arts and how the valuation of both fine and decorative arts were within the same price range

Suggested Readings

Vienna, 1900 Art, Architecture and Design. Varndoe, Kirk, MOMA (ISBN 0-87070-big-5)

Wiener Werkstatte, 1093-1932. Lauder, Ronald S. Neue Gallerie (ISBN 978-3-7913-5716-4)

Koloman Moser, Neue Gallerie (ISBN 978-3-5294-7)

Vienna Moderne: 1898-1918. (Library of Congress #78-71207)

Klimt. Neret, Gilles. Taschen 2006 (ISBN 13 978-3-8228-5980-3, ISBN 10 3-8228 5980X)

Sonja Knips und der Wiener Moderne. Von Miller, Manu. Verlag Christian Wien (ISBN 3-854)

International Arts & Crafts. Livingstone, Karen and Perry, Linda, Editors. V & A Publication. (ISBN 85177-445-9)