November – Trial Proof for Ver Sacrum, 1902

In 1898, one year after the founding of the Vienna Secession, the first issue of the association’s publication Ver Sacrum was published. As the official organ of the Union of Austrian Artists, the magazine contained articles and original graphic works by the association’s members and featured ornamental borders, initials and vignettes designed specifically for the publication. Throughout the six-year run of the magazine Ver Sacrum, Koloman Moser (1868–1918) created around 140 contributions – from initials to covers – and had a greater impact on the design of the publication than any other artist. This trial proof was published in its final form under the title November in Ver Sacrum in 1902. It served as an illustration to accompany the article Rudolf von Alt by Franz Servaes (1862–1947). The woodcut, of which there are several known trial proofs, is impressive for its intriguing linear design and its well-balanced planarity.

LVD, 2024