Cover design of the first publication of the Association of Austrian Artists Secession 1897

Koloman Moser designed this cover for the first publication of the Association of Austrian Artists Secession, reflecting the spirit of the late 19th-century Viennese art scene. The Secession emerged as a rebellious movement against the conservative artistic establishment, a sentiment mirroring broader socio-political tensions. Moser's cover embodies the era’s desire for artistic liberation and innovation. The image of a woman with a stylized wing challenges traditional academic art. It speaks to the Secessionists' ambition to break from the old and embrace new forms of expression. "ARS" is inscribed under the neck, meaning art in Latin. The cover encapsulates the Secession’s ethos: a fusion of art, life, and social reform. It’s a visual manifesto that encapsulates the complex interplay between identity, artistic freedom, and cultural change.