Graphic depiction of expressionist dance, dancer in red dress, text by Hedy Pfundmayr

JOHANN STRAUSS: FRANTIC ECSTASY

Feminist Free Dance in Posters 1900–1933

The MAK, too, will be joining the celebrations on the occasion of Johann Strauss’ 200th birthday, albeit from an unexpected perspective. The poster exhibition JOHANN STRAUSS: FRANTIC ECSTASY. Feminist Free Dance in Posters 1900–1933 will be showing how the beginnings of expressionist dance were linked to the Viennese waltz.

17.6.2025—16.11.2025

MAK Poster Forum

This form of artistic dance experienced its heyday in Vienna between 1900 and 1930 and was heavily inspired by Strauss’ music. Individual forms of rhythm, gesture, and emotion superseded the movements of the Viennese waltz. In the MAK Poster Forum, 40 posters advertising the spectacular performances by Gertrud Bodenwieser, Grete, Elsa, and Berta Wiesenthal, Anny Day-Helveg, Maria Ley, or Gertrude Barrison will be on show.

Curator
Peter Klinger, Deputy Head, MAK Library and Works on Paper Collection

Yellow, orange, white poster “Cilli Wang & Fritzi Klein dancing in the comedy, 1929”

Poster for the 2nd dance evening: Anny Helveg dances with William Askin, black and white graphic

Poster from 1921, advertising the Rose Palmé dance evening, dancer depicted graphically

Poster Maria Ley. New Dances, 1920, a dancer in white balances at the top of the L of Ley

Poster Primavera and Beatrice Mariagraete, dance evening “New dances to old music”, 1921

Media

Eric Isenburger Cilli Wang & Fritzi Klein tanzen in der Komödie [Cilli Wang & Fritzi Klein Dance in Die Komödie], 1929 Client: Die Komödie, Vienna Print: A. Luigard, Vienna Lithograph PI 808 © MAK

Erna Kniepert Hedy Pfundmayr, 1931 Print: J. Weiner, Vienna Lithograph PI 1517 © MAK

Max Hevesi Anny Helveg tanzt mit William Askin [Anny Helveg Dances with William Askin], 1921 Client: Konzerthaus, Vienna Print: Kunstanstalt Albert Reisser, Vienna Lithograph PI 2148 © MAK

Hans Neumann Maria Ley. Neue Tänze [Maria Ley: New Dances], 1920 Client: Konzerthaus, Vienna Print: Norbertus Buch- und Kunstdruckerei, Vienna Lithograph PI 2376 © MAK

Jan Vilímek Primavera und Beatrice Mariagraete, Tanzabend „Neue Tänze zu alter Musik“ [Primavera and Beatrice Mariagraete, “New Dances to Old Music” Dance Evening], 1921 Client: Konzerthaus, Vienna Print: J. Weiner, Vienna Lithograph PI 3266 © MAK

JOHANN STRAUSS: FRANTIC ECSTASY

Feminist Free Dance in Posters 1900–1933

Media

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Sun, 31.8.2025:Wiener Linien Day: Free admission to the MAK and the Fashion Party at the MAK Geymüllerschlössel