Painting in Vienna

Around 1900, Vienna had around two million inhabitants who flocked to the capital from all parts of the Habsburg monarchy. Vienna was always a city of high nobility and intellectuals, but at the same time poverty and conservative structures characterized everyday life.

It was the so-called “Fin de Siècle ” – the end of the century and Vienna was in a mood of optimism like never before. Artists from the fields of music, painting, psychology, philosophy, literature and architecture were drawn to Vienna. The artistic work of this period is referred to as Viennese Modernism and the years from 1890 to 1910 are considered to be the approximate period.

Everything that had previously been traditional in the empire was rejected and called into question. Instead, there were lasting upheavals. Sigmund Freud founded psychoanalysis and his book “The Interpretation of Dreams” was published in 1899. This influenced the writers and poets in the Viennese coffee houses and salons, who met there and inspired each other. Arthur Schnitzler comes to mind with his most famous work “Der Reigen”.

Gustav Mahler was director of the Vienna State Opera at this time and significantly reformed the opera program. Arnold Schönberg, the painter-composer, founded twelve-tone music and Otto Wagner shaped the city architecturally like no other with his Art Nouveau buildings.