“The Sun Seekers”. Design for a stained glass window over the western gate of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, not executed, 1947

Seven male figures are walking about at night with their lantern, seeking the sun. They are surprised to see it rise as a red ball of fire on the horizon. The vivid gestures and movements of the men depicted in the nude by Anton Kolig (1886–1950) express emotions that range from perplexity and simplicity to surprise and amazement. The painting displays one of many motifs that Kolig designed for a destroyed stained glass window over the western gate of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna from 1946. In addition to traditional religious themes such as the four evangelists, the pietà or scenes from the apocalypse, worldly allegories were considered as well. Here, however, Kolig invents a humorous anecdotal image to illustrate this symbolic representation of humans searching for the light of knowledge. Since the artist was working without an official commission, the designs were not accepted – even though the works were sent to the relevant authorities – and hence, Kolig’s manifold image ideas were not executed.

AK, 2022