Wiener Werkstatte

Paper Summary:

The paper states that the idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk, or "total integrated work of art," was developed by Richard Wagner to describe what he was trying to do with his opera - that is, to blend all of the arts together into a single, unified whole. The paper comments that artists belonging to the Wiener Werkstatte, inspired by the concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk, took this concept as their ultimate artistic goal. While in the end, due largely to funding problems, the Wiener Werkstatte failed, it nonetheless left an indelible mark on the artistic accomplishments of the Weimar era in Central Europe. Following on, the paper discusses the accomplishments, and shortcomings, of the artists and craftsmen of the Wiener Werkstatte to determine to what extent they were associated with this movement in order to attain the heights of the Gesamtkunstwerk.

Outline:
The Beginnings of the Wiener Werkstatte
Aesthetic Tendencies within the Werkstatte
Major Architectural Achievements of the Wiener Werkstatte
Purkersdorf Sanatorium
Palais Stoclet
Villa Ast
Villa Skywa-Primavesi
Sonja Knips House
Fashion and Product Design
Politics and Aesthetics: The Wiener Werkstatte in the Weimar Republic
Decline and fall of the Wiener Werkstatte

From the Paper:

"Founded by Josef Hoffman, Koloman Moser and Fritz Warndorfer, the concept of the Wiener Werkstatte is said to have originated in coffeehouse discussions amongst the three protagonists. As early as 1899, a groundwork or blueprint had been laid. The foundation of the Wiener Werkstatte called for a unity between art and craftsmanship, suggesting a series of workshops in which artists and craftsmen alike can work as well as learn from each other; thus the original idea of the Wiener Werkstatte was artistic as well as pedagogical."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Wiener Werkstatte-Richard Wagner

More papers on Wiener Werkstatte:

• Essay # 15382 : "Wiener V. U.S. ( 1958 )"
• Book Review # 103730 : "Winning the War Against Youth Gangs"
• Comparison Essay # 74142 : "'The Things They Carried' and 'Come Together'"

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