He was born on June 4 in the family of a merchant. From childhood, he was talented in arts. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, and after that at the Art Academy in Munich. He continued his studies at the private Julian Academy in Paris.
1868 - 1945
Karl Mediz
description
An Austrian landscape painter and graphic artist, an outstanding representative of Austrian Symbolism.
Karl Mediz was one of the leaders of the art association “Hagenbund”, which was the first society of independent artists of Austria, and afterwards a member of the Vienna Secession. For most of his life, he worked with his wife, artist Emilie Mediz-Pelikan, who was a talented graphic artist and landscape painter. During the bombing of Dresden in World War II, all the property of the artist, including paintings, was lost; his art was undeservedly forgotten. It was only in 1986 that a major exhibition of his works took place; the work of Karl Metiz was talked about as one of the most prominent in the history of Austrian art at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Key ideas:
– Karl Mediz is known for his Symbolic landscapes, made in an individual technique, with clear graphic lines and balanced colors. Together with his wife, he loved to depict seascapes from a bird’s-eye view, bizarre heaps of rocks near the water and stormy waterfalls.
– The artist often looked for unusual angles for his paintings. Some works depict parks and gardens during twilight. They are filled with melancholic mood, mysterious shadow and loneliness. In the landscapes of Mediz, there are absolutely no people, nature is quiet and mysterious and causes a feeling of admiration for the pristine beauty.
– In his paintings, especially in graphic works, the artist pays much attention to details. Every tree twig and each stone are depicted accurately and with love.
– Apart from landscapes, Karl Mediz created many wonderful portraits. He depicted his contemporaries, artists and relatives, most often his wife, who was his permanent model. Mediz painted all portraits with amazing accuracy, conveying not only the appearance of a person, but also their character, mood, and emotional experiences.
– The most famous canvas of the artist is “Red Angel”, created in 1902. This painting, depicting the femme fatale androgynous woman, is made in the spirit of true Symbolism.
1868
1888
1891
1892
1894
1902
1903
1904
1908
1945
The birth of the artist
Settled in a colony of landscape artists in Dachau
Settled in a colony of landscape artists in Dachau. Here he met his future wife Emilie Pelikan, who was also an artist.
He moved to Vienna
He married Emilie and moved to Vienna. The artists’ paintings did not sell well. They were very poor.
Visited Rome, Venice and Hungary
Thanks to financial support from friends, he went on sabbatical to Italy. Visited Rome, Venice and Hungary.
Spent a lot of time in Dresden
Spent a lot of time in Dresden, where he soon started living permanently.
He became a member of the creative group "Hagenbund"
He became a member of the creative group “Hagenbund”, which included artists who did not agree with the official requirements of the National Art Committee.
He participated in the collective exhibition of the association of artists “Hagenbund”
Together with his wife he participated in the collective exhibition of the association of artists “Hagenbund” in Vienna.
The works of the artist were accepted to the grand art exhibition
The works of the artist and his wife were accepted to the grand art exhibition in Dresden; in 1905 and 1906, they participated in the Berlin exhibitions.
The artist's wife died unexpectedly
The artist’s wife died unexpectedly. After the death of Emilia, Mediz stopped social activities and mainly created graphic works.
The death
The artist died in Dresden in 1945, shortly before the devastating bombing of the city, which destroyed much of his artistic heritage.