Ver Sacrum - The awakening of Modernism. Vienna around 1900 The intensity and innovative force of artistic creativity which developed in Vienna on the threshold to the 20th century were quite unique. Fine art, design and architecture had a stimulating influence on the international art scene. At the turn of the century Vienna became the quintessence of Austrian Modernism. The Vienna Secession is inseparably linked with names like Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka, Koloman Moser, Emil Orlik and Richard Gerstl. The aim of the young group of artists around Gustav Klimt, who formulated the battle-cry "To the age its Art - to Art its freedom", was to achieve aesthetic perfection and bring about renewal in a Ver Sacrum - a sacred spring.
	Destitution, Nature and New Forces. Austria between the wars 1918 - 1938 Within this period Austria evolves from an exposed world power to a more or less isolated minor State, which also effects a radical transformation in Austrian art. The leading Vienna models are no more, the major artists are dead. The search for pure art begins. Works by Herbert Boeckl, Anton Kolig, Albin Egger-Lienz, Rudolf Wacker and Alfons Walde represent this period of artistic development.
	Isolation and Emigration. 1938-45 Here social and national tensions escalate. Austrian art takes on superficial propagandist functions and loses contact with the international art scene, which leads to spiritual isolation. Among the artists who escape this situation by various means and assert themselves under differing conditions are: Oskar Kokoschka, Max Oppenheimer, Albert Paris Gütersloh and Franz Sedlacek.
	New Beginning in Diversity. 1945-1955/60 After the Second World War, completely independent positions develop, such as Arnulf Rainer, Friedensreich Hundertwasser or the Vienna school of fantastic realism (Arik Brauer, Rudolf Hausner, Ernst Fuchs); but artists such as Josef Mikl, Markus Prachensky, Maria Lassnig, Hans Staudacher, Oswald Oberhuber, Adolf Frohner and Alfred Hrdlicka also become important exponents in Austria.
	Search for and Ways to Pluralism. 1960-1980 Art in a consumer society / Actionism This period is marked by non-figurative art of a constructive and lyrical nature confronted with figurative art. The various positions are represented by Arnulf Rainer, Christian L. Attersee, Walter Pichler, Franz Ringel, Peter Pongratz and Max Weiler among others. The spectacular provocations and rituals of the Viennese actionists (Günter Brus, Otto Muehl, Hermann Nitsch, Rudolf Schwarzkogler), who occupy a special role in the happening and fluxus scene, cause an international sensation.
	The Belief in Progress Becomes Shaky. 1980-1990 After a period of breaking barriers and experimenting with different materials and forms of expression, the 1980s increasingly rediscover the traditional media of painting and sculpture. Painters like Kurt Kappa Kocherscheidt, Siegfried Anzinger, Gunter Damisch or Hubert Scheibl and sculptors like Franz West give the 'traditional' media fresh impetus.
	Uncompromising Search. The 1990s The 90s bring renewed interest in experimental art forms. Computer- generated images, installations and electronic media exist alongside painting, sculpture and printed graphics using traditional methods.

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