From empire to modernity: Austrian art in the long 19th century

Event information

• Type: Courses: Course
• Date: 7 September - 28 September 2026
• Tickets: From £57
• Location: Online
• Official page: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/from-empire-to-modernity-austrian-art-in-the-long-19th-century-september-2026-0

Details

About

From the lyrical landscapes of Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller to the radical visions of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, explore a century of extraordinary artistic transformation in Austria. Join cultural historian Gavin Plumley as he traces the development of Austrian art from the Enlightenment to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.

Ruled from Vienna, the Habsburg Empire encompassed vast territories across Central and Eastern Europe and fostered one of Europe's most vibrant cultural centres. While Vienna is often celebrated for its music, it was also home to generations of artists who responded to a rapidly changing world. As the 19th century progressed, shifting political realities, social change and new ideas challenged traditional artistic conventions, culminating in the emergence of some of the most innovative art of the modern era.

Across four weeks, we will explore the work of artists including Moritz von Schwind, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Hans Makart, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Richard Gerstl, placing their art within the broader cultural and political history of the Habsburg world.