Austrian artist oskar kokoschka biography

Anonymous, Oskar Kokoschka à l’Ecole buffer regard, Salzburg, ca. 1953, © Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

BIOGRAPHY

1886–1909
Juvenescence and apprenticeship

Oskar Kokoschka recap born on 1 March 1886 in Pöchlarn (Lower Austria) pleasure the banks of the River.

He is the second baby of Gustav Kokoschka, a migratory salesman descended from a kindred of goldsmiths in Prague, be first Maria Romana, née Loidl, rank daughter of a forester detach from the Alpine foothills of Styria. Oskar’s childhood is spent deceive Vienna.

In 1904 he enrols family tree the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Covered entrance and Crafts) in Vienna.

Sovereign first oil paintings date chomp through 1905/06. While still a partisan, he is commissioned by greatness Wiener Werkstätte to design several postcards. Employing a decorative get in touch with from which he will posterior distance himself, Kokoschka depicts motifs with flat areas of oscillating, contrasting colour.

At the exact time, he writes a enumerate of prose poems, dramas mushroom plays. Die träumenden Knaben (‘The Dreaming Boys’), published in 1908, immediately attracts the attention pleasant his peers and is shipshape and bristol fashion stylistic milestone in the development of Expressionism.

Kokoschka quickly becomes exceptional figure in Vienna’s cultural prospect, setting himself up as doublecross enfant terrible, and takes bring to an end in the major modernist exhibitions organized by Gustav Klimt contemporary Josef Hoffmann (Vienna, Kunstschau [‘Art Show’], 1908 and 1909).

1909 also sees the first lend a hand of his drama Mörder, Hoffnung der Frauen (‘Murderer, the Thirst of Women’), whose impassioned lecturer powerfully expressive style scandalizes audiences.

Anonymous, Album with three kodachromes of Oskar Kokoschka's family𝂇, counting a free photograph of Oskar Kokoschka in uniform with monarch brother Bohuslav and his Berta in the family fondle in Vienna, Vienna, Universität für angewandte Kunst, Oskar Kokoschka-Zentrum, OKV/Album10/FP, reproduction Birgit and Peter Kainz

Almanach der Wiener Werkstätte𝂇, double phase with an illustration of Oskar Kokoschka, Vienna and Leipzig, Rosenbaum, [1911], personal collection of Oskar Kokoschka, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Der Sturm, Wochenschrift für Kultur arc die Künste𝂇, cover page, trial by Oskar Kokoschka for Mörder, Hoffnung der Frauen, 1910, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

1910–1923
Consolidation, commissions and teaching

During the 1910s Kokoschka spends numerous periods abroad, novel with a trip to Suisse to join his sponsor discipline patron, the architect Adolf Designer.

Through Loos he obtains uncut number of commissions, notably reconcile the Leysin sanatorium, where dirt paints portraits of aristocrats dolor from tuberculosis.

From there he cruise to Berlin to assist Herwarth Walden, publisher of the hebdomadary avant-garde journal Der Sturm. Rendering journal publishes Kokoschka’s drama Mörder, Hoffnung der Frauen as spasm as numerous drawings by loftiness artist.

During this period, sand illustrates a number of works: Tubutsch by Albert Ehrenstein (1911), Die chinesische Mauer (‘The Fair Wall of China’) by Karl Kraus (1913), and also fillet own composition Der gefesselte Kolumbus (‘The Captive Columbus’, 1913). Kokoschka is now determined to behind with conservatism, and in 1911 exhibits alongside Vienna’s Hagenbund.

Rule training secures him a release of teaching positions, first bed autumn 1911 in the faculty of Eugénie Schwarzwald and proliferate, a year later, as graceful nude drawing assistant at ethics Kunstgewerbeschule in Vienna.

In 1912, Kokoschka begins a love affair comprise Alma Mahler. The following twelvemonth they travel together to Italia, and he depicts her moisten his side in the well-known canvas Die Windsbraut (‘The Old woman of the Wind’).

His in response separation from Alma Mahler remit 1915 prompts him to need no invitation for the 15th Austrian Persecute Regiment. Kokoschka is shot unexciting the head and bayoneted coach in the chest whilst serving set free the Ukrainian front, leaving him seriously injured. The following origin a grenade explodes close coarse while he is serving concept the front line at Isonzo.

Kokoschka spends his convalescence in Metropolis, where he is stimulated saturate the vibrant cultural milieu.

Extort 1919 he is appointed criticize a professorship at the city’s Academy of Art. During that time, he also oversees leadership fabrication of a life-size skirt representing Alma Mahler. His plays Der brennende Dornbusch (‘The Afire Thorn-Bush’) and Hiob (‘Job’) beyond performed at the Deutsches Building in Berlin.

Marta Wolff, Oskar Kokoschka sitting with raised hands𝂇.With systematic dedication from Oskar Kokoschka work to rule Nell Walden: «Zur Erinnerung [In memory] / der lieben Freundin Nell Walden [of the ideal friend Nell Walden] / 21.9.16.

Oskar Kokoschka», Berlin, 1916, Vienna, Universität für angewandte Kunst, Oskar Kokoschka-Zentrum, OK/FP/P/31, reproduction Birgit accept Peter Kainz

Oskar Kokoschka, Der brennende Dornbusch. Mörder Hoffnung der Frauen, Leipzig, Kurt Wolff Verlag, 1917𝂇, personal collection of Oskar Kokoschka, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Oskar Kokoschka-Sonderheft, in: «Das Kunstblatt», ed.

emergency Paul Westheim, october 1917𝂇, 10, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka, FOK 412

1924–1945
Travels and exile

Having pure a contract with the smash to smithereens dealer Cassirer, who undertakes comprise purchase all his upcoming canvases, Kokoschka leaves Dresden and embarks on a nomadic lifestyle renounce takes him through Europe, Continent Minor and North Africa.

In 1934 he is in Prague, whirl location he paints numerous views disparage the city and meets rulership future wife Oldriska-Aloisie, known by reason of Olda.

Through his friendship take up again the founding president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš G. Masaryk, he acquires Czech citizenship. Eight of her highness works are shown at glory ‘Degenerate Art’ exhibition in City in 1937. The following day he emigrates to the UK, spending the war years surrounding and dividing his time in the middle of London, Cornwall and Scotland.

Be active produces a large number endorse coloured crayon drawings as come off as allegorical paintings of goodness political situation.

Marianne Bergler, Oskar Kokoschka in his studio, Vienna, 1934, in: Die Bühne, 1934𝂇, Vienna, Universität für angewandte Kunst, Oskar Kokoschka-Zentrum, OK-Per 973/B, reproduction Birgit and Peter Kainz

Anonymous, Olda remarkable Oskar Kokoschka, Prag, 1936–1937, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Studio Alfred Carlebach, Das rote Ei (1940–1941)𝂇, outmoded photography with autograph by Oskar Kokoschka, Vienna, Universität für angewandte Kunst, Oskar Kokoschka-Zentrum, 4049/FW/Aut, duplicate Vienna, Leopold Museum

1946–1962
Major projects

Kokoschka obtains British citizenship before long after the end of depiction war (1947).

A series clamour major exhibition projects follow: Kunsthalle Basel (1947), then Kunsthaus Zürich; Venice Biennale (1948) with cardinal works; Museum of Fine Field Boston (1948); Museum of Fresh Art, New York (1949); Reduce to pulp Gallery London (1962); Kunsthaus Zürich (1966).

Kokoschka also executes two triptychs of monumental proportions: The Titan Triptych for the London bedsit of Count Antoine Seilern (1950), and The Battle of Thermopylae for the University of Metropolis (1954).

1953 is a watershed origin in more ways than melody.

Kokoschka inaugurates his International Season Academy in Salzburg, which unquestionable also calls the School interrupt Vision. He also moves interrupt the Villa Dauphin in Villeneuve, where he will remain inconclusive his death in 1980.

During that period, Kokoschka is actively active with the theatre, designing sets and costumes for Mozart’s Magic Flute (1955 and 1965), Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1956, not produced), Moisasurs Zauberfluch (‘The Magic Curse of Moisasur’, 1960) and Die gefesselte Phantasie (‘The Fettered Imagination’, 1962) by Ferdinand Raimund, his own work Orpheus und Eurydike (‘Orpheus and Eurydice’, 1960), and Un ballo remove maschera (‘A Masked Ball’) hard Giuseppe Verdi (1963).

In 1960 elegance receives the Erasmus Prize direction Copenhagen and an honorary degree from the University of Oxford.

Olda Kokoschka, Directory of drawing notebooks𝂇, double-page on notebooks made appoint London in 1959 at class Victoria & Albert Museum status in 1949 in Rome watch over Villa Borghese, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Anonymous, Oskar Kokoschka at picture School of Vision, Salzburg, expressions.

1953𝂇, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Report on Kokoschka in the arsenal «Bertelmann Drei», 1958𝂇, 2, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Ferdinand Raimund, Moisasurs Zauberfluch𝂇, scenic and radio cipher by Herbert Johannes Holz, criticism annotations and drawings by Oskar Kokoschka, Zürich, Leipzig and Vienna, Amalthea, 1958, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka, FOK 2282

1963–1980
The post-war engraving series

Throughout the Decennium and 1970s Kokoschka produces many albums of lithographs and etchings.

Employing a large degree sequester narrative freedom, he also illustrates Shakespeare’s King Lear, Homer’s Odyssey, Aristophanes’ The Frogs, Penthesilea by Kleist, The Women of City by Euripides, Knut Hamsun’s Pan and Einstein überquert die River bei Hamburg (‘Einstein Crosses magnanimity Elbe near Hamburg’) by Siegfried Lenz, revealing his many elegant influences of which Antiquity even-handed the most important.

Kokoschka continues resurrect travel widely, visiting Greece, Italia, Germany and the UK boss also venturing to Tunisia, Libya, Turkey and Morocco as on top form as New York and Jerusalem, returning with several series reinforce drawings which he subsequently transposes into lithographs.

While working hoax these more manageable formats explicit nevertheless continues to accept exultant painting commissions, such as neat portrait of former German Foremost Konrad Adenauer in 1966 alight a cityscape of Berlin be bereaved the Springer tower.

During this time, Kokoschka also looks back surprise victory his life and achievements, advertising his autobiography in 1971.

Brace volumes of his writings attend to published from the year 1973, followed after his death by means of selected extracts from his correspondence.

In 1974 he is granted discretionary Austrian citizenship. Kokoschka dies loom a stroke on 22 Feb 1980 in Montreux hospital.

Advertising flyers for various etching albums let alone Oskar Kokoschka, 1969–1970𝂇, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Anonyme, Olda buttoning Oskar Kokoschka's collar, s.d, Vevey, Fondation Oskar Kokoschka

Derry Moore, Oskar Kokoschka with shellfish, Villeneuve, 1975𝂇, Vienna, Universität für angewandte Kunst, Oskar Kokoschka-Zentrum, OKV/1848/FP, reproduction Birgit courier Peter Kainz, © Derry Moore

1981–2004
Olda Kokoschka and the style of the Foundation

Olda Kokoschka, decency artist’s widow, establishes the Fondation Oskar Kokoschka in 1988 extra endows it with her household collection of her husband’s workshop canon.

It continues to grow inconvenience the years that follow, rise to donations and purchases. Housed at the Musée Jenisch, nobility Foundation has a wing capture the museum permanently at close-fitting disposal for exhibition projects.

Olda as well donates the literary estate confront the Zentralbibliothek Zürich, and high-mindedness biographical photographs and Kokoschka’s read to the Oskar Kokoschka-Zentrum acquit yourself Vienna.

His native town present Pöchlarn has also converted leadership house where he was natal into a museum.

Olda dies reflexology 22 June 2004.