Towards an Ideal Education for Arts and Crafts : k.k. Österreichisches Museum für Kunst und Industrie and Kunstgewerbeschule in Vienna before 1900

Abstract

Focusing on the reform of k.k. Österreichisches Museum für Kunst und Industrie (the Imperial Royal Austrian Museum of Art and Industry) and the school attached to it, Kunstgewerbeschule (the School of Arts and Crafts), this study attempts to shed new light on the modernization processes within two institutions, which were preconditions for the reform of the Kunstgewerbeschule by Wiener Secession (Vienna Secession, est. 1897) artists in the 1900s in Vienna. After Secessionist artist Felician von Myrbach assumed the post of Director in 1899, he started a programme of school reform with his Secessionist colleagues Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and Alfred Roller. The programme was heavily influenced by the artistic ideals of the Moderne. However, the statutes and curricula of the Kunstgewerbeschule were gradually revised after the 1870s in order to make them better suited to industrial needs. The first revision of the school curriculum in 1872 aimed at expanding the Preparatory Department. The aims of the second revision in 1877 were the additional development of the Preparatory Department and the reinforcement of art education at the Professional Department. The statute was revised in 1888. The departments were reorganised and atelier courses introduced in the Professional Department. The modernization of the Museum was also essential. In 1897, Arthur von Scala became its Director. Scala enthusiastically introduced English handicrafts, which he highly valued, into the Museum. Despite the conflict between Scala and the Wiener Kunstgewerbeverein (Vienna Arts and Crafts Association, est. 1884), the conservative faction within the Museum, control of the Museum moved to Scala and the Ministry of Culture and Education. The statute of the Museum was revised in 1899 to promote the creativity of individual craftsmen. In the late 19th century, the Ministry of Culture and Education itself was undergoing liberal modernization. Architect Otto Wagner, who was appointed by the Minister as both a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum and the Kunstrat (Art Council), presented suggestions on the personnel and reorganization of the Kunstgewerbschule. It was clear that Wagner’s proposal to appoint artists in positions of professors was referring to the Secession artists. Scala was against his idea, because he believed that Secession artists might lead the school into dogmatism. Eventually, however, Myrbach, Hoffmann, Moser and Roller received appointments at the school between 1899 and 1900.Theme I : Design Education before the Bauhau