E-MailVer sacrum: Mitteilungen der Vereinigung Bildender Künstler Österreichs (1898-1903
The magazine Ver sacrum has a similar significance in Austrian as the PAN has in the German art magazine landscape. The magazine was first published in 1898 and aimed at popularizing the ideas of the Wiener Secession, which was founded a year earlier. The editor was the "Vereinigung bildender Künstler Österreichs, Secession". The subtitle Organ der Vereinigung bildender Künstler Österreichs was changed to Zeitschrift der Vereinigung bildender Künstler Österreichs in 1899 and in 1900 to Mitteilungen der Vereinigung bildender Künstler Österreichs.
The very first introduction "Weshalb wir eine Zeitschrift herausgeben" postulated: "Diese Zeitschrift soll […] ein Aufruf an den Kunstsinn der Bevölkerung sein, zur Anregung, Förderung und Verbreitung künstlerischen Lebens und künstlerischer Selbständigkeit." Claiming that art again had to become an indispensible part of life.
The magazine was designed following the concept of a Gesamtkunstwerk by combining literature, visual arts and music; it contained art theoretical articles, contributions on artists and exhibitions and literature. It contained pictures of works of art and exhibitions, original graphics and book decorations designed by members of the Secession. The graphic design became exemplary for Austrian book art.
Further reading
- Bressan, Marina / De Grassi, Marino [Hrsg.]: Ver Sacrum. La rivista d'arte della Secessione viennese. 1898 - 1903, Monfalcone / Trieste 2003
- Bressan, Marina / De Grassi, Marino [Hrsg.]: Ver Sacrum. La rivista d'arte della Secessione viennese, Monfalcone / Trieste 2004
- Kleinschmidt, Bernhard: Die "gemeinsame Sendung". Kunstpublizistik der Wiener Jahrhundertwende, Frankfurt am Main u.a. 1989
- Nebehay, Christian M.: Ver sacrum 1898 - 1903, Wien 1975
- Paesel, Susanne: Bildende Kunst der Wiener Moderne. Die "Wiener Secession" und ihr Organ, die Zeitschrift "Ver Sacrum". München / Ravensburg 2003
- Waissenberger, Robert: Ver Sacrum. Die Zeitschrift der Wiener Secession 1898 – 1903, Wien 1983
