Poster of five art exhibition of the Association of Austrian Artists of Secession 1899

Koloman Moser designed this poster in Austria to advertise the 5th exhibition of the Vienna Secession. The poster embodies the group’s foundational spirit of challenging the conservative artistic establishment. Moser uses an androgynous winged figure as a visual code for the Secession’s progressive ideals. The figure holds a mask, symbolizing artifice, and sits atop a blossoming flower, representing the flourishing of new art. Made during the second year of the Secession’s journal ‘Ver Sacrum’, or ‘Sacred Spring,’ the poster reflects the group's belief in art as a revitalizing force. The location of the exhibition at Wienzeile 2, was itself significant, being the address of the group’s newly built exhibition hall, designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich. Understanding this poster means diving into the history of the Secession, its members, and their manifestos. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t exist in a vacuum, but is shaped by the social and institutional forces of its time.