Secession: Modern Art and Design in Austria and Germany 1890s-1920s

by Christine Dixon

Through their daring break from the official academy style and the conservative state-controlled art market of the late 19th century, the Secession movements in Germany and Austria irrevocably changed the ways in which art, design and architecture were conceived and realized in Vienna, Munich and Berlin at the turn of the century. This volume provides a comprehensive introduction to the Secession movements, as well as the applied and fashion design of the Wiener WerkstŠtte. Like the radical composers and musicians, disturbing philosophers and psychoanalysts, revolutionary writers and scientists of the time, Secession artists were transformers of culture. As such they were of central importance for the development of modern European art and had a crucial influence on subsequent artistic movements and institutions in 20th century Germany, among them Die BrŸcke, Der Blaue Reiter and the Bauhaus. Color illustrations effectively render the lasting impact of the Secession's bold experiments in artistic style and design.

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2001