cutlery pieces of the so-called 'round model', wiener werkstätte, 1907–1912
© MAK/georg mayer

opening on june 16 is 'josef hoffmann: inspirations', a permanent exhibition
dedicated to the renowned architect and designer of the 20th century at the
josef hoffman museum, brtnice, czech republic. the show gives a comprehensive
survey of his life and work, illustrating the artistic influences that he received
in moravia, czech republic. the MAK owns the largest collection of works by hoffmann
worldwide, most of which came to the museum as part of the estate of the wiener
werkstätte. since 2006, the artist’s birthplace has been operated as a joint branch museum
by the moravian gallery in brno and the MAK, vienna. during his studies in vienna
and his stays in great britain he developed his own, very personal variant of modernism.


stool from the studio of koloman moser in vienna, 1898
© MAK/georg mayer


bar table, part of the furnishings for an apartment, um 1910
© MAK


combined cabinets from the furnishings for dr. hermann wittgenstein in vienna, 1906
© MAK/georg mayer


cabinet, 1899
paper, pencil, ink, color pencil
© MAK/georg mayer


coffee pot, 1925–1928
paper, pencil, color pencil
© MAK/georg mayer


glass-painting stencils, 1928
paper, glazed paper
© MAK


portrait josef hoffmann, around 1950
© MAK


josef hoffmann 1870 - 1956
a leading member and founder of the wiener secession (vienna secession - group
of austrian artists), 1897 and wiener werkstätte (viennese workshops), 1903, architect
and designer hoffmann was one of the most influential figures in the field in the early
20th century. after commencing his studies at the royal state technical school in brno
in 1887 he went on to study architecture at the academy of fine arts in vienna from
1892 to 1895, where his tutors included otto wagner. he produced furniture, metalware
and jewelry designs often characterized  by elements of geometry and rectilinearity.