Koloman Moser

As an illustrator, craftsman, interior designer, and painter, Kolo Moser not only helped to determine the style but also shaped significantly the artistic scene of his time. He was closely linked to the influential artistic institutions of the turn of the last century, as a founding member of the Vienna Secession and a co-founder of the Wiener Werkstatte as well as in his capacity as Professor of the College of Applied Arts in Vienna. His oeuvre is inextricably linked to the content and fortunes of Austrian Art at the end of the Danube Monarchy.

"Fin-de-siecle Vienna was a hive of creative activity, and at its centre was one of the most versatile artists of the age, Koloman Moser (1868-1918). As a teacher, artist and craftsman, Moser had an immense influence on the tastes of his time, with talents that ranged from illustration and graphics to stained glass and the design of stage sets and postage stamps. In 1897 he was a founder member of the Vienna Secession, and in 1903, together with his friend and colleague Josef Hoffmann, he founded the Wiener Werkstatte, whose workshops were to set trends that spread far beyond the boundaries of Austria. He devoted the last years of his life to painting, and in recent times his reputation in this field too has steadily grown.". "Despite the wealth of information that has survived down the years, Moser's personality remains largely hidden behind his work. Here, Maria Rennhofer connects the many fragments of Moser's personal life, his artistic influences and his multifaceted creativity to form a coherent portrait of this fascinating man. This is not only the first comprehensive account of Moser's life and work to by published in English, but also an in-depth look at the flourishing artistic environment which he did so much to create and shape."--BOOK JACKET.