»La Belle Époque. The Magic of Art Nouveau« at the Städtische Galerie Rosenheim

Art Nouveau developed as a reaction to the changes brought about by industrialization, which was perceived as cold and uncaring. At the same time, young artists pursued the goal of replacing the prevailing historicism, in which design forms of past eras were reproduced, with new, future-oriented stylistic elements. Floral ornamentation and curved lines are two particularly widespread features of Art Nouveau, which permeated not only art and architecture but also the design of furniture and other furnishings.

The new forms were received with enthusiasm early on in Munich and Vienna, after which nearby smaller towns such as Rosenheim were also profoundly influenced by them. The townscape was quickly dominated by new buildings, and an unprecedented public art collection greatly enriched Rosenheim's cultural life. Smaller artist colonies and renowned artists such as Leo Putz settled in and around Rosenheim; the native Rosenheimer Rudolf Sieck, for example, achieved international recognition as a painter.

The Städtische Galerie Rosenheim now traces the development of this influential epoch, which prevailed for only about 20 years, in the exhibition La Belle Époque. The Magic of Art Nouveau. In it, regional works by Sieck, Emil Thoma and Hans Müller-Schnuttenbach are juxtaposed with those of internationally renowned artists such as Franz von Stuck and Alfons Mucha. The show opens slightly later than planned on December 16, 2021, and is expected to run until May 01, 2022.