Trial Proof for a Vignette, 1902

The emergence of Modernism in Vienna around 1900 manifested itself in a great variety of disciplines, including dance. The increased expressiveness of the human body resulting from the liberation of dance fascinated many people at the time and was reflected in numerous works of visual arts. Like many of his fellow artists, Koloman Moser (1868–1918) also explored the topic of dance. In this woodcut, Moser combines exuberant movements with high-contrast planarity; once more, he employs elements that are typical of his works, such as a woman’s face, geometric and vegetable ornaments as well as curved lines. Around the same time, the artist also created several other woodcuts of people dancing, such as Dance – Trial Proof for Ver Sacrum.

LVD, 2024