Oskar Kokoschka ... third, but not the last!

[vyadem]

Continuing the recent theme of LCR about Egon Schiele, for which she once more my gratitude, I want to remember yet another expressive artist Austrian - Oskar Kokoschka. I think asking about their well-known Austrian artists in response to received "Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka. Indeed, it is difficult not include Oskar Kokoschka to this "troika", but what it it takes place - the taste of each

Oskar Kokoschka (01.03.1886-22.02.1980)

Oskar Kokoschka was born in the town Pöchlarn on the Danube in 1886. His father was a Czech, and came from a famous family of jewelers in Prague. Apparently, things had not fared too well: Kokoschka later recalled: "From him I learned endure poverty, but by slavishly do unloved unpleasant work, I never learned." Oscar's mother came from the Austrian province of Styria. She was a wonderful storyteller, and Oscar has instilled a love of nature. The future artist was in the family of the second of their four sons. When Oscar was a child, the family moved to Vienna, where he died in 1891 his elder brother.

      In childhood Kokoschka showed no inclination to art. He wanted to study chemistry, but the teacher, who is impressed by the pictures of Oscar, recommended him to study at the Vienna School of Applied Arts. Kokoschka went to school in 1905, but then he began to paint in oils, and in 1907 he found work in the Vienna art workshops. Soon, however, Oscar I became interested in literature. He undertook to translate a children's book, but as a result has written their own original text. His first book, "Dreaming youths, he and illustrated. Traces were also written two plays "The Sphinx and a stuffed" and "Murderer, Hope of Women", they say the critics, brought the theater of Expressionism in Germany. The main themes of the plays Kokoschka were: sex, violence, and the antagonism between man and woman.

      In 1908, the work of Kokoschka exhibited at an exhibition in Vienna, which was devoted to the avant-garde group, formed around Klimt. However, creativity Kokoschka because of violence and eroticism provoked a backlash from traditionalists, and in the end it was expelled from the School of Applied Arts. On one of his drawings in 1906 was a picture of a nude adventuress and dancer Mata Hari. It was believed that she was serving in the German intelligence service, in 1917, she was shot by the French. In 1907 and 1908 respectively Kokoschka often depicted naked girls. One of his favorite models was Lilith Lang, daughter of Mary Lang, feminists and co-founder of the progressive magazine "Women's instruments".

      In 1909 his works were shown at a major exhibition, and two pieces were placed in small open theater next to the exhibition. Scenes of violence once again caused a scandal, then and Art Studios stopped giving orders Kokoschka. Once, in one of Vienna's beer, he drank more than anyone else and won the bet. His greatest fan was a modernist architect Adolf Loos, who gave him a few private orders. Soon Kokoschka painted a portrait of the satirist Charles Cross, editor of "Torch. Cross on the subject said: "It is quite possible that those who know me will not recognize me in the portrait. But those who do not know - just recognize.