Female bust Franz Hagenauer Werkstatte Hagenauer ca. 1960

In his sculptural designs, Franz Hagenauer responded to various international avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. Reduced to basic geometric shapes with only subtly suggested details, his heads and busts crafted from chased metal reveal parallels to the formal language of artists such as Constantin Brâncuși and Amedeo Modigliani.

The style and design of the female bust evoke earlier periods. The elongated neck, the faint curl on the cheek—suggesting the modern bob—and the extreme simplification of the eyes and mouth reflect the fashion and popular culture of the Golden 1920s.

The bust is defined by ist reduction to a clear, pure, and objective form, alongside Hagenauer’s commitment to the highest level of craftsmanship.