Otto Prutscher

Universal Designer of Viennese Modernism

Otto Prutscher (1880–1949) was an architect and designer, an exhibition designer, teacher, and member of all the important arts and crafts movements—from the Secession to the Werkbund.

20.11.2019—11.10.2020

MAK Permanent Collection Contemporary Art

Prutscher was one of the first students of the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. Being taught by Josef Hoffmann and the painter Franz Matsch clearly left its mark on Prutscher’s designs: this is evident in both their high-quality draftsmanship and their constant alignment with prevailing architectural trends.

Prutscher’s known oeuvre comprises over 50 buildings, almost 50 exhibitions, some 170 interiors, 300 interior designs, and more than 200 pieces and sets of furniture. His designs were executed by over 200 companies, above all the Wiener Werkstätte and firms like Backhausen or Augarten.

70 years after Prutscher’s death, this exhibition explores his complex creative work and his role in the development of Viennese Modernism. The show was inspired by the collector Hermi Schedlmayer’s generous gift of 139 designs, objects, and furniture by Prutscher.

Curator: Rainald Franz, Curator, MAK Glass and Ceramics Collection

Audioguide

Tour of the exhibition OTTO PRUTSCHER. Designer of Viennese Modernism, read by Vincent Lyssewski | Headphones can be purchased at the MAK Ticket Desk for € 1, soundcloud.com/makwien

Publication

Accompanying publication to the exhibition: Otto Prutscher: Universal Designer of Viennese Modernism (MAK Studies 26), edited by Christoph Thun-Hohenstein and Rainald Franz. With contributions by Silvia Colombari, Claas Duit, Rainald Franz, Aline Müller, Kathrin Pokorny-Nagel, Beba Restelli, Elisabeth Schmuttermeier, and Christoph Thun-Hohenstein. German/English, 160 pages with numerous color illustrations. MAK, Vienna/Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart 2019. Available at the MAK Design Shop and online at MAKdesignshop.at for € 39.10. The exhibition catalog is funded by the EU Program Art Nouveau.

Media

Vienna Art Week 2019

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Lidded goblet, Vienna, 1927/28<br />Execution: Josef Carl Klinkosch<br />Silver, gilt, wrought, hammered, cast<br />© MAK</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Lidded goblet, Vienna, 1927/28, Execution: Josef Carl Klinkosch © MAK

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Fauteuil, Vienna, ca. 1919<br />Execution: Gebrüder Thonet<br />Oak, carved; beechwood, bent; upholstery with textile cover<br />© MAK/Georg Mayer</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Fauteuil, Vienna, ca. 1919
Execution: Gebrüder Thonet
Oak, carved; beechwood, bent; upholstery with textile cover
© MAK/Georg Mayer

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Vase II 5469 with plant stand, Joh. Loetz Witwe for Bakalowits<br />© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Vase II 5469 with plant stand, Joh. Loetz Witwe for Bakalowits
© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz

<BODY>Beaded glass vase after a design by Otto Prutscher, 1908<br />Execution: Joh. Loetz Witwe, Klostermühle (Klášterský Mlýn, CZ),<br />© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz</BODY>

Beaded glass vase after a design by Otto Prutscher, 1908
Execution: Joh. Loetz Witwe, Klostermühle (Klášterský Mlýn, CZ),
© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Coffee set no. 1321 for the Klinkosch company, ca. 1915<br />© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Coffee set no. 1321 for the Klinkosch company, ca. 1915
© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Chimney access doors for Jakob Nowak’s apartment, ca. 1920<br />© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Chimney access doors for Jakob Nowak’s apartment, ca. 1920
© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Vitrine for the “Room for an Art Enthusiast” at the Vienna Kunstschau in 1908<br />© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Vitrine for the “Room for an Art Enthusiast” at the Vienna Kunstschau in 1908
© Otto Prutscher Archive, Baden/Peter Kainz

Publication to the exhibition: Otto Prutscher: Universal Designer of Viennese Modernism (MAK Studies 26)

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Interior elevation for the Café-Restaurant Hotel Imperial, Vienna’s 1st district (jointly with Anton Schuwerk and August Röben), 1937<br />Cardboard, tracing paper, watercolor paint, india ink, colored pencil, pencil<br />© MAK</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Interior elevation for the Café-Restaurant Hotel Imperial, Vienna’s 1st district (jointly with Anton Schuwerk and August Röben), 1937
Cardboard, tracing paper, watercolor paint, india ink, colored pencil, pencil
© MAK

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Tablecloth, ca. 1910<br />Execution: Herrburger & Rhomberg, Vienna/Dornbirn<br />Cotton, woven<br />© MAK/Katrin Wißkirchen</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Tablecloth, ca. 1910
Execution: Herrburger & Rhomberg, Vienna/Dornbirn
Cotton, woven
© MAK/Katrin Wißkirchen

<BODY>Portrait photo of Otto Prutscher, 1930–1948<br />© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan</BODY>

Portrait photo of Otto Prutscher, 1930–1948
© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan

<BODY>Otto Prutscher in a chair by Josef Zotti, 1913<br />Photo: Karl Ehn<br />© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan</BODY>

Otto Prutscher in a chair by Josef Zotti, 1913, Photo: Karl Ehn © Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Sample room with lamps, wallpapers, and fabrics by the Wiener Werkstätte, ca. 1910<br />© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Sample room with lamps, wallpapers, and fabrics by the Wiener Werkstätte, ca. 1910
© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Façade of the public housing Lorenshof, Längenfeldgasse, Vienna’s 12th district, 1927<br />© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Façade of the public housing Lorenshof, Längenfeldgasse, Vienna’s 12th district, 1927
© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Interior of the pharmacy „Zum goldenen Adler“, 1911<br />© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan<br /></BODY>

<BODY>Otto Prutscher, Detail of the warm water pool area at the Dianabad swimming pool<br />(jointly with Gebrüder Schwadron and Michael Powolny), Vienna, 1913/14<br />© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan</BODY>

Otto Prutscher, Detail of the warm water pool area at the Dianabad swimming pool
(jointly with Gebrüder Schwadron and Michael Powolny), Vienna, 1913/14
© Archivio Famiglia Otto Prutscher, Milan