To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Austria in 2019, the exhibition "Vienna Modern; Klimt, Schiele: The Road to the Fin de Siècle" will be held at the National Art Center, Tokyo in Tokyo from April 24 to August 5, 2019, and at the National Museum of Art, Osaka in Osaka from August 27 to December 8.


From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Vienna saw a growing movement to seek out new art that transcended the boundaries of painting, architecture, crafts, design, and fashion, and a unique, decorative and glamorous culture flourished. This period, now known as "fin de siècle art," saw the emergence of leading figures from various fields, including painters Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka; architects Otto Wagner, Josef Hoffmann, and Adolf Loos; and designer Koloman Moser, ushering in a golden age of modern art and design. This period extended beyond the fine arts to encompass a wide range of fields, including music and psychiatry.

This exhibition is a new attempt to unravel Vienna's fin de siècle culture from the perspective of "the process toward modernism." From masterpieces of the late 18th century and the Biedermeier period to representative figures of fin de siècle art, such as Klimt, Schiele, the Vienna Secession, Kokoschka, Otto Wagner, the Wiener Werkstätte, and Adolf Loos, the exhibition traces this period through an unprecedentedly impressive collection of works, including 74 oil paintings, crafts, graphics, and textiles. Approximately 400 works will be on display in the Tokyo exhibition, and approximately 330 in the Osaka exhibition. One of the highlights of this exhibition is its comprehensive coverage of Vienna's artistic culture, encompassing painting, architecture, applied arts, and music. Tracing the period back to the mid-18th century, the exhibition highlights the historical background of Vienna's fin de siècle culture. Through a variety of exhibits, including not only painting and crafts but also architecture, design, interior design, fashion, and graphic design, as well as photographs and documents from the period and a specially produced film on the city's evolution, the exhibition offers a comprehensive introduction to the artistic world nurtured in Vienna, the "City of Art." The Tokyo exhibition also brings together numerous works by Vienna's fin de siècle masters, including 47 by Klimt, 22 by Schiele, and 17 by Kokoschka. In addition to oil paintings such as Klimt's "Portrait of Emilie Flöge," depicting his beloved, the exhibition also features drawings, posters, and other graphics, providing a deep insight into the works of artists who built the Golden Age of Modernism. Highlights include a painting by Hans Makart, an artist who influenced Klimt, depicting the 1879 parade celebrating the silver wedding anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, and paintings by composer Arnold Schoenberg. The Osaka exhibition will feature 18 works by Klimt, 11 by Schiele, and 8 by Kokoschka.

Another highlight is the gathering of treasures from the Vienna Museums. Known as one of Europe's leading museums, the museum's collection of over one million items conveys Vienna's history and culture to the present day. Following the museum's ongoing renovations, this exhibition will bring together its major works. Including works from private collections, the Tokyo exhibition will feature approximately 400 pieces, while the Osaka exhibition will feature approximately 330. This is a rare opportunity to see this historic museum's precious fin-de-siècle collection of Vienna outside of Austria. Additionally, numerous invaluable design drawings and models of Otto Wagner, the Vienna Secession, and modernist architecture will also be on display. The exhibition also offers a comprehensive look at Viennese modern design, from the Biedermeier style to the Wiener Werkstätte, making it a must-see for architecture fans, interior design enthusiasts, and fashion enthusiasts. In addition, the museum will feature a collection that music fans and history buffs will not want to miss, including exhibits related to musicians born in Vienna, such as Mozart, Schubert, and Schoenberg, as well as artworks that introduce the history of Vienna from the reign of Empress Maria Theresa to the end of the century, from the glory of the Habsburg dynasty to its demise.