169 - JOSEF HOFFMANN (Brtnice, Moravia, 1870 – Vienna, 1956).

JOSEF HOFFMANN (Brtnice, Moravia, 1870 – Vienna, 1956). “Study of Profiles for Frames.” Ink on paper. Signed in ink. Stamp of Josef Hoffmann’s studio in the upper left corner. Measurements: 27.5 x 19 cm; 33 x 24 cm (frame). Preparatory drawings constitute a fundamental aspect of Josef Hoffmann’s body of work, whose design philosophy integrated architecture, furniture, and the decorative arts. This work brings together four studies of profiles for frames or moldings, drawn in ink using a combination of straight and curved lines that explore different formal and structural solutions. The drawing reflects Hoffmann’s interest in geometric precision and ornamental refinement, essential principles of his contribution to modern design. It also bears the stamp of his studio, of the same type that appears on other drawings by the architect documented in museum collections. Josef Hoffmann was one of the leading figures of Viennese Modernism. A student of Otto Wagner, he helped found the Vienna Secession in 1897 and, together with Koloman Moser, the Wiener Werkstätte in 1903. Among his most notable projects are the Purkersdorf Sanatorium and the Stoclet Palace in Brussels, conceived as a total work of art. His body of work, which spans architecture, furniture, metalwork, and interior design, is represented in institutions such as the MAK in Vienna, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.