Female bust Franz Hagenauer early 1980s
Female bust, Franz Hagenauer, Werkstatte Hagenauer Wien, early 1980s, marked
marked with “wHw” in the circle, “FRANZ”, “HAGENAUER WIEN”, “MADE IN AUSTRIA” and “1009”; contemporary photograph in the Hagenauer Archive at Museum of Applied Arts Vienna, inv. no. 1139
Description
The designs of Franz Hagenauer from the 1980s show an artistic spirit in motion. Even in this late period towards the end of his life, Hagenauer was interested in new impulses for his artworks.
In this piece, Franz Hagenauer uses copper wire for a veritable mane of hair. This is the only beaten metal object of the Werkstatte Hagenauer, known to us, where the entire magnificence of the hair is fully sculptured and not just hinted at.
The representation of the eyes is also remarkable. It is true that eyelashes were already documented in the 1970s with the rather flat, relief-like heads. However, we have not yet been able to observe them in this dynamic way, directly created from the metal of the sculpture. This bust is an exciting testimony to the late work of Franz Hagenauer.
Artist
Execution
Werkstätte Hagenauer – stylistic evolution and importance
Today, the Werkstatte Hagenauer is rightfully among the most important Austrian Arts & Crafts manufacturers of the 20th century. The clear, strict formal language combined with dynamic poses and the usage of brass, nickel-plated, patinated or bare, along with copper, alpaca and exotic wood shows a high level of recognition.
However, it took the siblings Karl and Franz Hagenauer quite some time until they developed their own unique style. Karl and Franz both attended the Vienna School of Arts & Crafts and studied under Josef Hoffmann, Oskar Strnad, Anton Hanak and Dagobert Peche.
Until the closure of the Werkstatte Hagenauer on December 30, 1987, art objects of outstanding quality were still being produced. The siblings Karl and Franz Hagenauer strongly contributed in coining the term „design“ through their legacy and are surely among the most influential Austrian artists of the 20th century.
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