The Art of the Viennese Watercolor

Displaying the property, the journeys or the family: The art of the Viennese watercolor had its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries before it was finally ousted from its position by photography.
Unlike English and French watercolor with their focus on light and atmosphere, the Viennese variety distinguished itself by realistic precision. For viewers of today, they are an important source of historic documentation, besides their artistic value.
The technical and compositional virtuosity of Viennese watercolors is fascinating, in the exhibition that includes more than 200 pictures, 180 of which are from the Albertina’s own collection, the development of this art form in the course of the 19th century becomes observable.
At the beginning of the show, there is a loan by another institution, a watercolor by Heinrich Friedrich Füger showing the founders of the Albertina‘s collection, Prince Albert of Teschen-Saxony and archduchess Christine together with Empress Maria Theresia.
At the end there is the view of Rudolf von Alt out of his apartment on the street, painted when he was already 91 years old.
During his long career, Rudolf von Alt, who lived to the age of 93, marked the Viennese watercolor like no other artist. He painted for nobles like the Liechtenstein dynasty, the Rasumofsky or the Harrachs, depicting their palaces‘ interiors, and he accompanied the changes in Vienna’s cityscape with his paintings over the entire 19th century.
Rudolf von Alt’s father Jakob, and also Thomas Ender, Carl Schütz, Moritz Michael Daffinger, Matthäus Loder, Thomas Ender, Anton Romako, Eduard Gurk or August von Pettenkofen counted among the most important artists of the time who are on display in this show with their pictures.
It was not only the prosperous bourgeoisie of the Biedermeier era who were the clients of the painters, at first it was the aristocracy that had their property and lifestyle immortalized by this quick painting technique. Material could be transported quickly and easily, the watercolorists accompanied the noblemen on their journeys and hiking tours as personal painters, or they portrayed them and the interior of their estates.
By watercolor, opaque colors, tempera and gouache this art served to document moments, experiences, or property. In times before photography, these pictures were commissioned in order to eternalize the world that the clients lived in.
The rich repertoire of motifs offers cityscapes and landscapes, portraits, interiors and flowers, but also genre paintings with scenes of the life of « common people », as made by Peter Fendi, or « gypsies » by Anton Romako.
From the Biedermeier era to the art of 1900, the exhibition „The Art of the Viennese Watercolor“ is proof of the importance of this particular version of watercolor art, and at the same time it is an invaluable insight into the cultural history of a whole century. The exhibition has been curated by Marie Luise Sternath, it is on display in the Albertina until May 13, 2018.
(Written by Cem Angeli)

https://www.albertina.at/

Interviewee: Maria Luise Sternath
Artworks by: Thomas Ender, Moritz Michael Daffinger, Matthäus Loder, Anton Romako, Eduard Gurk, August von Pettenkofen, Jakob Schütz, Rudolf von Alt, Jakob Alt, Maria Luise Sternath, Carl Schütz

Copyright info: The audio and video recording has been made with personal permission of the artist.
Licensing: 0
Language(s): German, English
Subtitles: German, English
Producer: KA21 GmbH / CastYourArt
Production crew: Wolfgang Haas, Helmut Feier, Maria Bruckmoser
Production country: Austria, Vienna