Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956)

The architect and designer Josef Hoffmann (1870 – 1956) influenced an entire age with his highly original designs. He studied at the Akademie für bildende Künste (Academy of Fine Arts) in Vienna under Carl von Hasenauer and Otto Wagner and developed his characteristically severe, straight-lined style very early on. In 1897, he joined the rebel artists’ society known as the Wiener Secession (Vienna Secession) and just two years later, at the tender age of 29, was appointed a professor at the Kunstgewerbeschule Wien (Vienna School of Applied Arts).

In 1903 he joined with Kolo Moser to establish the Wiener Werkstätte, a design workshop with the declared goal of creating “Gesamtkunstwerke”, or total works of art. Their first major commission came in 1904 when they were selected to design the buildings and furniture for the Purkersdorf Sanatorium near Vienna. A year later, in 1905, Hoffmann was able to realize his “Gesamtkunstwerk” ideal in Palais Stoclet, Brussels. He drew upon all areas of the applied arts to create this tour de force, fabricating metalwork, decoration, leather, glass, textiles, ceramic, flooring and – furniture.

The many furniture designs Josef Hoffmann created in this period are considered classics. With their pure clarity of form and timeless simplicity, these designs remain just as compelling today as they have always been.