GUSTAV KLIMT
GUSTAV KLIMT 1862-1918
Ver Sacrum 1898
Print on paper.
20.39 x 14.17 in.
Magazine poster printed by Verlag von Gerlach von Schenk, Vienna.
The magazine Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) was the official organ of the Vereinigung Bildender Kunstler Oesterreichs, the group responsible for the Vienna Secession. It represented a fusion between the avant-garde architects led by Otto Wagner and the Viennese painters and sculptors, with Gustav Klimt as their leader. The magazine was launched in 1898 to coincide with the first exhibition of Secession artists. To promote the exhibition Klimt designed a poster with Athena (goddess of the arts) watching Theseus fight the Minotaur. It was a symbolic image, representing the struggle between contemporary artists and the "ancient" regime. Furthermore, unexpectedly scandalous, it depicted Theseus completely naked. The poster was censored and Klimt redesigned the image with Theseus' sex hidden behind a tree. This very rare variant was used to advertise the magazine, in fact the image (in black and white), with this text, was used on the cover of the May-June 1898 issue
Bibliografia/Literature
B. Denscher, Österreichische Plakatkunst 1898 - 1938, editore Christian Brandstätter, Vienna 1992, pag. 23 (var.). 3.
W. Von Zur Woster, Reklame Kunst, edizioni Verlag Von Belhagen und Klasing, Bielefeld e Lipsia; 1914, pag. 111.
Provenienza/Provenance
Swann auctions galleries, Rare & Important Art Nouveau Posters, Dec 15, 2005 - Sale 2062.
Collezione privata, Torino.
Bid on this lot
GUSTAV KLIMT 1862-1918
Ver Sacrum 1898
Print on paper.
20.39 x 14.17 in.
Magazine poster printed by Verlag von Gerlach von Schenk, Vienna.
The magazine Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) was the official organ of the Vereinigung Bildender Kunstler Oesterreichs, the group responsible for the Vienna Secession. It represented a fusion between the avant-garde architects led by Otto Wagner and the Viennese painters and sculptors, with Gustav Klimt as their leader. The magazine was launched in 1898 to coincide with the first exhibition of Secession artists. To promote the exhibition Klimt designed a poster with Athena (goddess of the arts) watching Theseus fight the Minotaur. It was a symbolic image, representing the struggle between contemporary artists and the "ancient" regime. Furthermore, unexpectedly scandalous, it depicted Theseus completely naked. The poster was censored and Klimt redesigned the image with Theseus' sex hidden behind a tree. This very rare variant was used to advertise the magazine, in fact the image (in black and white), with this text, was used on the cover of the May-June 1898 issue
Bibliografia/Literature
B. Denscher, Österreichische Plakatkunst 1898 - 1938, editore Christian Brandstätter, Vienna 1992, pag. 23 (var.). 3.
W. Von Zur Woster, Reklame Kunst, edizioni Verlag Von Belhagen und Klasing, Bielefeld e Lipsia; 1914, pag. 111.
Provenienza/Provenance
Swann auctions galleries, Rare & Important Art Nouveau Posters, Dec 15, 2005 - Sale 2062.
Collezione privata, Torino.
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