The Insinuation, 1902/03

Born in Hamburg, Richard Luksch (1872–1936) was educated at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. Following his marriage to the painter Elena von Makowsky (1878–1967), he moved to Vienna in 1900, where he became a member of the Vienna Secession. During the short time he lived in Vienna, he created several important artworks, including the bust of Emperor Franz Joseph for the Austrian Postal Savings Bank as well as two saint figurines (Leopold and Severin) for the Church at Steinhof. Particularly noteworthy is this ceramic bust with a white glaze which used to be situated in the garden of Hans Prutscher’s (1873–1959) Villa Meran in Klosterneuburg. The villa was owned by the director of the company Wienerberger which was the largest brick factory at the time. The company commissioned artists to create works to be incorporated into the villa complex. The female bust has an attentive expression; she seems to be listening carefully to the two delicate nude youths, whispering into her left and right ear. What might they be saying?

BL, 20221