Secession — Attraction in Vienna

Vienna Secession: A Bridge to the Bauhaus My tour has taken me to the very heart of the Modernist revolution, and my visit to the Secession Museum in Vienna was a revelation for my book on Walter Gropius and Alma Mahler. The building itself is a powerful statement, an elegant cube topped with a golden dome of swirling laurel leaves, a striking symbol of its mission: "To every age its art, to every art its freedom." This maxim immediately resonated, revealing a clear historical and philosophical connection to the Bauhaus that would emerge just a couple of decades later. The Secession movement, founded by artists like Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, and Josef Hoffmann, was a radical break from the stifling academic and historicist styles of the 19th century. Their call for a "total work of art" and their emphasis on integrating art into everyday life directly foreshadowed the Bauhaus manifesto. Walking through the museum, particularly viewing Klimt’s monumental Beethoven Frieze, I could feel the artistic rebellion and the bold idealism that would later fuel Gropius's vision. They were, in essence, the trailblazers who cleared the path for the Bauhaus, defending the right to create a new visual language. This visit was not just about seeing beautiful art; it was about understanding a foundational moment that deeply influenced Gropius's own thinking before he even founded the school in Weimar. It cemented for me how the spirit of the Secession—its rejection of historical imitation, its belief in the unity of art, and its quest for social relevance—was a critical stepping stone on the journey from fin de siècle Vienna to the revolutionary halls of the Bauhaus. This place is not just a museum; it's a profound piece of the puzzle, a living testament to the roots of the Modernist ideal that my book...

The building is very Spartan and hosts Klimt's Beethoven frieze in a climate controlled basement.

Thanks to the Stop Oil protesters one has to leave pretty much everything one has before accessing the exhibition areas, there are lockers for this purpose but one needs €1 coin or token to lock them.

Klimt's painting covers 4 walls although the bits of interest are mostly in one of the smaller walls and in two much smaller fragments in the others, the rest being almost bare bar for dreamy women figures that are barely visible. The painting is deservedly revered but it may leave some people cold.

In this occasion the museum provided headphones playing Beethoven's 9th in a loop, but this may have changed by the time other people read this.

There are temporary exhibition spaces, the artist that was in residence in the big ground floor room wasn't of my liking but clearly few will leave without having at least a quick look. Thanks Mr Klimt for that.

If I was visiting Vienna in a hurry I may have not visited the place, but if you have a very leisurely timeframe you will end here...

The building of the Wiener Secession, built by Joseph Maria Olbrich, has a striking, architectonic appearance from the outside. While various modern exhibitions are located on the upper floor of the building, which is used as an art museum, a permanent exhibition is held on the lower floor.

Klimt's Beethoven Frieze is on permanent display here, in a room created according to his measurements, and is a work worth seeing. During your visit, you can spend time comfortably in the room and, if you wish, listen to a part of the 9th symphony through the headphones provided. This is a really nice experience.

Although we liked the permanent exhibition of Klimt's work and the building in general, we did not like the temporary exhibition and its display at all on the date we visited. The entrance fee to the museum is fixed and includes everything. So, you may have to pay for a ridiculous exhibition to see the building and Beethoven Frieze. Therefore, before entering, I recommend that you get information about the temporary exhibition inside and...