Oskar Kokoschka
Oskar Kokoschka
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Oskar Ludwig Bernhard Kokoschka was a renowned Austrian artist, playwright, poet, and theatre designer.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on May 1, 1886, in Pöcking (near Munich), Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire; passed away on February 22, 1980, in Montreux, Switzerland.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Austrian artist, playwright, poet, and theatre designer. Kokoschka was a prominent figure in the Expressionist movement of the early 20th century, known for his bold and emotive works that explored human psychology and the complexities of modern life.
Early Life and Background
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Kokoschka's childhood was marked by turmoil, with his parents divorcing when he was just nine years old. He began drawing at an early age, encouraged by his mother, who recognized his talent and supported his artistic endeavors. Kokoschka attended the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Applied Arts) in Vienna from 1903 to 1905, where he developed a passion for printmaking and etching.
Major Accomplishments
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Founded the Hagenbund art group in Vienna (1910), which provided a platform for artists to showcase their work and engage in avant-garde activities.
Published several collections of poetry, including "Lidschiefs" (1909) and "Vergeistigung" (1913).
Completed his first major play, "Mörder, Hoffnung der Frauen!" (Murderer, Hope of Women!), in 1907.
Began working on his influential painting series, "The Warriors", in the early 1930s.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Kokoschka's most notable works include:
Paintings
"Der Würger der Medusa" (The Murderer of Medusa) (1916)
"Die dämmernde Stadt" (The Twilight City) (1934)
Plays and Poetry
"Mörder, Hoffnung der Frauen!" (Murderer, Hope of Women!) (1907)
"Lidschiefs" (1909)
* "Vergeistigung" (1913)
Impact and Legacy
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Kokoschka's innovative style and boundless creative energy left an indelible mark on the art world. As a pioneer of Expressionism, he paved the way for countless artists to explore the subconscious and push the boundaries of human experience.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Kokoschka's bold and provocative works continue to inspire generations of artists, writers, and thinkers. His willingness to challenge societal norms and conventions has made him a celebrated figure in art history, with his quotes and ideas remaining relevant today.
Quotes by Oskar Kokoschka
Intellectually, I am already an old man. But in the sensory area, I am still such a child! I shuffle on my bottom between the two.
There is no such thing as a German, French, or Anglo-American Expressionism! There are only young people trying to find their bearings in the world.
The mystery of the soul is like that of a closed door. When you open it, you see something which was not there before.
All that’s left now is purely poetic work, putting more life into individual places, as I’ve made so sure of the fundamental mood and dimension of expression that it won’t leave me groping around in uncertainty any more.
The most fundamental in me is coming uppermost, and the transient, the sensational, is dispersing, because it can’t adversely influence what is essential to me.
How do I define a work of art? It is not an asset in the stock-exchange sense, but a man’s timid attempt to repeat the miracle that the simplest peasant girl is capable of at any time, that of magically producing life out of nothing.
True dreams and visions should be as visible to the artist as the phenomena of the objective world.
Open your eyes at last and see...now I will open the book of the world for you,there are no words in it,just pictures
I cannot say why I wanted to paint.The only answer is in the pictures themselves.
However ugly a face may be, we can discover some beauty in it if we first experience wonder before it and then begin to understand it, too.