!!!Kokoschka, Oskar

b. Poechlarn (Lower Austria), March 1, 1886, 
d. Villeneuve near Montreux (Switzerland), Feb. 22, 1980, painter, 
graphic artist, poet. Studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Craft 
under A. v. Kenner, C. O. Czeschka und B. Loeffler, worked in the 
Wiener Werkstaette from 1907; contributed to the magazine "Der Sturm" 
in Berlin from 1910, taught at the Dresden Academy 1919-1929, 
travelled widely in Europe, North Africa and the Near East. Worked in 
Prague 1934-1938, emigrated to London, settled in Villeneuve in 1953. 
Early work dominated by the linear style of the Vienna Secession ("Die 
traeumenden Knaben", 1908, narrative in verse illustrated with his own 
colour lithographs), his contribution to the "Sturm" earned him early 
recognition as an important Expressionist (portrait of A. Loos, 1909, 
"Die Windsbraut", 1914). Colour, his chief means of expression during 
his time in Dresden ("The Power of Music", "Die Macht der Musik", 
1920, "Selbstbildnis mit gekreuzten Armen", 1922/23), loses importance 
in the town views painted during his travels. The great cycle of 
paintings of towns and landscapes seen almost from a bird's eye view 
("Weltlandschaften") can be regarded as unique in 20th century art. In 
his portraits, town views and his (often political) allegories - 
motifs and themes which also dominate his late work - a revival of 
baroque principles of creation can be noticed (especially those of F. 
A. Maulbertsch). 1953 K. established the Schule des Sehens (School of 
Seeing), a seminar at the International Summer Academy in Salzburg. In 
literature K. is considered the pioneer of Expressionist drama. The 
use of strong effects and pathetic language is as characteristic as 
the absence of a coherent plot and the breaking-away from traditional 
genres by introducing dance and pantomime. Among his most important 
dramas are "Sphinx und Strohmann" (1907, under the title "Hiob" 1917), 
"Moerder, Hoffnung der Frauen" ("Murder Hope of Women" 1909, set to 
music by P. Hindemith 1921), "Der brennende Dornbusch" (1911) and 
"Orpheus und Eurydike" ("Orpheus and Eurydice" 1915, set to music by 
E. Krenek). By way of contrast, his later prose shows a style of 
accentuated sobriety in which reality and dream are interwoven. ("Mein 
Leben", autobiography 1971). Awarded the Grand Austrian State Prize in 
1954. Oskar Kokoschka Centre in the archives building of the 
University of Applied Arts in Vienna.

\\
Edition: O. K. Das schriftliche Werk, ed. by. H. Spielmann, 4 vols., 
1973-1976.

!Literature
H. M. Wingler and F. Welz, O. K. Das druckgraphische Werk, 
2 vols., 1975-1981; W. J. Schweiger, Der junge K., Leben und Werk 
1904-1914, 1983; K. A. Schroeder and J. Winkler (eds.), O. K., 
exhibition catalogue, Kunstforum, Vienna 1991; A. Strobl and A. 
Weidinger, O. K. Das Fruehwerk (1897/1998-1917). Zeichnungen und 
Aquarelle, 1994; J. Winkler and K. Erling, O. K., Die Gemaelde, vol. 
1, 1995.



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