KARL HAGENAUER (Austria, 1898 - 1956).
"Male figure".
Chromed bronze on marble base.
Size: 20 x 15 cm (sculpture); 3 x 17 x 7 cm (base).
The modelling of this sculpture is essential and synthetic without leaving aside the naturalism, typically Art Deco. Thus, in general, the details, the meticulous rendering of the real model, are left to one side, although Karl Hagenauer pays particular attention to capturing the movement of the animal's anatomy. These characteristics ascribe the piece to Art Deco, an artistic style that emerged in 1920 and whose influence continued until the mid-20th century in some countries. It sought to renew all disciplines, defending the value of the technological progress of the time and the new sciences of the day. The son of the goldsmith Carl Hagenauer, Karl studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts, where he was taught by Josef Hoffmann and Oskar Strnad and imbued with the spirit of the Wiener Wekstätte. After obtaining his diploma in architecture, he did military service between 1917 and 1919, and on his return he began to work as an architect and in his father's studio. During these years he created numerous pieces in silver, brass, copper, enamel, ivory, stone and wood. In 1928, after his father's death, he took over the management of the workshop and was responsible for the expansion of the firm, extending production to cabinetmaking and opening shops in Vienna and Salzburg. Since then he has exhibited his best pieces both in Austria and abroad, was twice awarded the gold medal at the Milan Triennale and was made a member of the Austrian Werkbund and the Werkstätte. His works are now in collections all over the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the MoMA and the Jewish Museum in New York, the Casa Lis in Salamanca and many others.