Josef Hoffmann: Interiors, 1902-1913

November 2, 2006
- February 26, 2007

“Josef Hoffmann: Interiors, 1902-1913,” which presents four complete interiors by the influential Austrian architect, will go on view from November 2, 2006, through February 26, 2007. It is the first exhibition of its kind, and will highlight material never before shown in the United States. The curator of the exhibition is Christian Witt-Dörring, distinguished curator of decorative arts.

“This exhibition will surprise and, I hope, please many people,” said Ronald S. Lauder, president of the Neue Galerie. “These magnificent interiors contain all the color and sense of fantasy that Josef Hoffmann originally gave to them.”

“Hoffmann epitomizes early-twentieth-century Viennese design,” said Renée Price, director of the Neue Galerie. “His rigorously abstracted forms were essential in defining the style of the era.”

Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) is recognized as one of the leading figures in the modern movement. The four featured interiors will be a girl’s bedroom from the Max Biach residence (Vienna 1902), a bedroom from the Hans Salzer residence (Vienna 1902), the dining room from the residence of Jerome Stonborough and Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein (Berlin 1905), and the dining room from the residence of the Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler (Geneva 1913). Each interior will be furnished with numerous objects original to those rooms: furniture, wall and floor coverings, textiles, lighting, ceramics, glass, and metalwork. Many of these products were produced under the auspices of the influential Wiener Werkstätte, of which Hoffmann was the artistic director.