Carl Moll Hunting Still Life 1897

In the early 1890s, Carl Moll created several large-format hunting still lifes featuring turkeys, painted in a historicist, Old Master style. While his earlier works were executed in muted, earthy browns and ochres, this hunting still life from 1897 is characterized by a much more vibrant color palette. Grapes, pomegranates, pumpkins, corn, quinces, and walnuts enliven the composition and add vivid color accents to the table arrangement.
The most notable departure from his earlier works is the large window that opens up a view of Carl Moll’s garden studio. Using a light, pastel palette, Moll captured the view of the garden and the nearby Karlskirche with an impressionistic brushstroke. The contrast between the detailed still life and the loose brushwork of the garden scene marks a shift to a new style and reflects the contradictory spirit of the fin de siècle.
The painting was completed in the same year that Vienna Secession was founded, signaling the beginning of a new artistic era for Moll. Inspired by his openness to Western modernism, his work in the following years reflects a deeper engagement with nature and shows a brightened palette along with a freer approach to color application.The most notable departure from his earlier works is the large window that opens up a view of Carl Moll’s garden studio. Using a light, pastel palette, Moll captured the view of the garden and the nearby Karlskirche with an impressionistic brushstroke. The contrast between the detailed still life and the loose brushwork of the garden scene marks a shift to a new style and reflects the contradictory spirit of the fin de siècle.
The painting was completed in the same year that the Vienna Secession was founded, signaling the beginning of a new artistic era for Moll. Inspired by his openness to Western modernism, his work in the following years reflects a deeper engagement with nature and shows a brightened palette along with a freer approach to color application.