Figure Study for “Venus in the Grotto”, c. 1914

Koloman Moser (1868–1918) explored the composition of his work Venus in the Grotto over an extended period of time, as documented by the existence of various drafts and versions of this motif, among which the present one may be called the most mature. Venus appears to us within the hollow of a rock, and surrounded by an opened veil that covers no more than part of her legs. The artist rendered her naked and in colors which no longer correspond to nature, using chrome yellow for the heightened areas and pale purple for the shadows. For the surrounding veil, the artist chose yellow ocher and light blue, while rendering the rocks in a greenish blue and ocher. In the lower right corner he added a bouquet of flowers. Moser achieved an impressive harmony of colors in this rendering. The artist created a version of his work [The Hiker] (/en/object/583) with exactly the same measurements, which he apparently intended as a companion piece to this painting.

Text Leopold Museum