A cherub-like character struggles to keep hold of a cascading sheath of coloured blossoms in Spring, from The four seasons, 1906–08, by Michael Powolny.
Spring, from The four seasons is in the style of early Viennese modernism – a period from 1890 that broke from conventions of recreating detailed, historical styles and imitating the work of historic artists to create vibrant and colourful artworks. A celebration of new beginnings and life that the season brings, Spring, from The four seasons was made for the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop) in the first decade of the twentieth century, as part of a series representing each of the four seasons.
Spring’s sculptural form, vibrant garland and geometric qualities make it a unique example of ceramics from the period. It breaks from what were the broadly conservative tastes of the early 1900s by using simplified, stylised forms, while preserving the Viennese love of decoration and gambolling putti (figures of small children). The son of a potter, Powolny formally trained in ceramics at the Fachschule für Tonindustrie (Institute for Ceramics) in Znaim (now Znojmo) in the Czech Republic, and studied sculpture at the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Applied Arts) in Vienna, Austria. He then founded the Wiener Keramik studio in 1906, working with the painter and graphic artist Berthold Löffler, a fellow student at the Kunstgewerbeschule.
In 1902, Powolny exhibited ceramics with the Austrian artists of the Vienna Secession. This was an art movement formed in 1897 by Austrian painters, sculptors and architects who, tired of the official art salons and their traditional views, had all resigned from the Association of Austrian Artists with a view to creating a ‘total art’ that unified painting, architecture and the decorative arts. Powolny’s work shares decorative characteristics with one of the leading painters of the movement, Gustav Klimt, in its use of tessellated blocks of colour and gold pigment. Designed to be used in a domestic setting, Spring’s stylised form, fresh colours and unique colour palette give it a contemporary appearance.
Spring, from the four seasons, 1906–08, along with the three other works in Powonly’s series, can be found in the Mid 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts Gallery on Level 2, NGV International.