Erwin Hauser gives Linz 2,994 works of art - a historical moment!

Erwin Hauser gives Linz 2,994 works of art - a historical moment!

Erwin Hauser left a remarkable collection to the city of Linz and the Lento's art museum: 2,994 works by 690 artists and 80 artists from Austria, which mainly date from 19, 20 and 21 century. This generous foundation campaign represents the largest expansion of the museum since the purchase of the Wolfgang Gurlitt collection in 1953. This gift enriches the collection of the lentos by a variety of significant works of art, which will be presented to the audience until October 5, 2023 in the "Cool - Collection Erwin Hauser". The director of the Lentos, Hemma dirt, describes this collection as the "substantial expansion" of the stocks. Mayor Dietmar Prammer (SPÖ) emphasizes the handover as a "large gesture" and "somewhat historical", while cultural councilor Doris Lang-Mayerhofer (ÖVP) regarded it as "milestone" for the museum.

Around 200 exhibits are made accessible to the public in a first step. The curator Elisabeth Nowak-Thaller saw the works and made a selection that corresponds to 90 percent with Hauser's selection. The tour of the exhibition follows a chronological course, starting with the 19th century and ending in classical modernism. Landscapes, portraits and genre representations can be seen in the studio, including remarkable works by artists such as Johann Baptist Reiter and Tina Blau.

exhibition highlights and thematic focus

In addition, the exhibition shows works of the interwar period and fantastic realism, represented by artists such as Klemens Brosch and Ernst Fuchs. Monumental canvases and abstract painting, like that of Martha Jungwirth and Wolfgang Hollegha, also find their place in the collection. The "new wild ones" are represented by Siegfried Anzinger and Gunter Damisch. In addition, a special wall shows small sculptures that include objects from early expressionism to contemporary art.

A smaller room in the exhibition is devoted to Vienna Actionism and Performance, with work by Valie Export and Hermann Nitsch. Another room is particularly reserved for contemporary artists from the 21st century, including Xenia Hauser and Eva Schlegel. The scientific processing of the Hauser-Collection has already started and promises to provide further exciting knowledge about this important collection.

A look at the Erwin Hauser

The Erwin Hauser Collection is considered one of the most important private collections in Austria. It includes works that Hauser has gathered in the past 25 years and ranges from paintings to sculptures to photographs and graphics. The exhibition is not only a look at art history, but also a valuable contribution to the cultural landscape of Austria.

In the city of Vienna, the Wien Museum holds an important art collection that includes art history from the Biedermeier period to the present. It offers a wide range of velvety paintings, sculptures and installations. The 056 strengths of the collection are particularly in Biedermeier and in Vienna Art around 1900, including the works of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. These aspects underline the cultural relevance of collections such as that of Erwin Hauser who enrich and expand our understanding of Austrian art.