Exploring Klemens Brosch: A Great Artist Rediscovered at Lower Belvedere, Vienna

This exhibition at the Lower Belvedere presents the first major retrospective in Vienna of Linz-based artist Klemens Brosch, showcasing his prolific output of drawings, watercolours, prints, and paintings. It delves into his timeless, existential works that anticipated New Objectivity and Surrealism, exploring themes of mortality and death influenced by his experiences.

In a brief but intense career spanning sixteen years, Klemens Brosch created an extensive body of work comprising one thousand drawings, watercolours, prints, and paintings, establishing him as one of Austria’s greatest draughtsmen alongside contemporaries like Klimt and Schiele. His fantastical and meticulous drawings are characterized by their timeless and existential nature, prefiguring elements of New Objectivity and Surrealism. Brosch was deeply impacted by the altered art world and the profound trauma of the First World War, themes that manifested in his work through dark subjects, depictions of mass killings, and a pervasive engagement with mortality and death. Brosch's artistic journey began in 1913 with the co-founding of the Linz artist association MAERZ. The war years left indelible marks on both his art and his mental health, as he grappled with harrowing experiences throughout his life. His struggles with drug addiction and treatments for his dependency intensified, tragically culminating in his suicide in December 1926. This exhibition at the Lower Belvedere traces the various stages of his life and oeuvre, offering a testament to a crisis-stricken era and rediscovering a significant Austrian artist.

Visitors can purchase time slot tickets online in advance to save time and guarantee entry. The page directs users to a dedicated ticketing link for purchasing these tickets.