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Seance: Albert Von Keller and the Occult
The Swiss-born artist Albert von Keller (1844-1920) was a founding member of the Munich Secession, one of Europe's most influential artists' associations. Highly regarded as an artist in both Europe and America at the turn of the last century, Keller was a flamboyant figure known for his fascination with the occult.
Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker places Keller's modern treatment of enigmatic subjects within the cultural mileau of fin de siecle Germany, particularly the investigation of the occult undertaken by scientists, artists andintellectuals. She also documents for the first time the critical reception to Keller's work in America, tracing the artist's participation in exhibitions in Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, New york, and Saint Louis and his presence in important private collections of German art in America. Swiss art historian Gian Casper Bott examines each painting by Keller in depth and places the artist's works in the art-historical context of the era. The book includes magnificent color reproductions of Keller's paintings from the collection of the Kunsthaus Zurich. It includes key works by Keller from the late 1870s to the beginning of the First World War, a period that coincided with the scandal of his elopement with the beautiful banker's daughter Irene von Eichthal, the tragic death of his only child, and the death of his wife only months later in a state of profound grief.
Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker places Keller's modern treatment of enigmatic subjects within the cultural mileau of fin de siecle Germany, particularly the investigation of the occult undertaken by scientists, artists andintellectuals. She also documents for the first time the critical reception to Keller's work in America, tracing the artist's participation in exhibitions in Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, New york, and Saint Louis and his presence in important private collections of German art in America. Swiss art historian Gian Casper Bott examines each painting by Keller in depth and places the artist's works in the art-historical context of the era. The book includes magnificent color reproductions of Keller's paintings from the collection of the Kunsthaus Zurich. It includes key works by Keller from the late 1870s to the beginning of the First World War, a period that coincided with the scandal of his elopement with the beautiful banker's daughter Irene von Eichthal, the tragic death of his only child, and the death of his wife only months later in a state of profound grief.
- GenresArt
104 pages, Hardcover
First published November 16, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 30, 2021
An insight into the massive changing being inflicted upon the world leading up to the phase shift of World War I. In this period of such rapid change it was causing great dislocation, the book gives insight into the "allure of spiritualism as armor against materialism." This spiritualism was a melange of religious fervor, death, and Eros; this heady mixture proved to have powerful impact before receding into the back streets of New Orleans (made popular by Anne Rice) and the various vampire/werewolf crazes.
November 23, 2022
Beautiful art, unfortunately marred by a large amount of missing work and a somewhat turgidly written primary essay.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews