Original colored lithograph postcard after tempera design by Oskar Kokoschka. 1907/1908. Condition is excellent. Published by the Wiener Werkstaette. Unframed. Comes with the original backing of Galerie St. Etienne, 24 West 57th Street, New York City (see photo). Provenance: A Southampton, Long Island New York collector.
Oskar Kokoschka, an Austrian artist, poet, and playwright, was a significant contributor to the Expressionist movement. He was born in Pöchlarn, Austria, in 1886 and studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Vienna. Later on, he worked for Wiener Werkstätte (Viennese Workshops), a company that produced high-quality goods using traditional handicraft methods.
Kokoschka is well-known for his expressionistic portraits and landscapes that reflect his intense emotions. He became a leading exponent of Expressionism because of his revolutionary theories on vision that inspired many Viennese artists during the early 20th century.
The Neue Galerie represented Kokoschka exclusively for Austria during the interwar years. His works are easily recognizable as they feature his distinctive italic initials ‘OK,’ which he scratched deep into their surface.
Kokoschka’s influence extended beyond painting; he also established the “School of Seeing” in Salzburg, Austria (1953). It primarily focused on promoting individual artistic expression while educating students about composition fundamentals.
In 1980 Kokoschka passed away in Villeneuve Switzerland but left behind an extensive legacy as one of Austria’s most prominent artists.