Ornamental Design, c. 1920

Josef Hoffmann’s (1870–1956) planar designs for wallpapers and wall solutions showcase the entire range of the architect and co-founder of the Wiener Werkstätte’s creative refinement and technical skills. Whether he applied strictly geometricizing ornaments or organic variations of wavelike motifs and vegetal elements, he invested his serially run-through forms with rhythm and dynamics. Despite using recurring motifs, he created the effect of pulsating renewal and spatial depth. When choosing his basic motifs, Hoffmann drew on various sources, including basic geometrical forms, variations of ancient Egyptian ornaments, as well as on Far Eastern traditions, especially katagami – traditional Japanese paper motifs. With these designs, Hoffmann once again proved that he was a confident freehand draftsman who was highly skilled in his use of painterly means and had a profound knowledge of basic creative principles.

MH, 2023