The Wiener Werkstätte, a collective of artists and craftspeople operating just outside of Vienna's historic center a century ago, sought to preserve the human touch of handcraft in the face of rapid industrialization. This exhibition at the Jewish Museum in New York delves into the group's ethos and its female artists, who were often overlooked in the past. The show, titled "Modernity and Opulence: Women of the Wiener Werkstätte," showcases over 200 objects in various mediums, with a particular focus on the ceramic artist Vally Wieselthier and the textile designer Felice Rix-Ueno. The exhibition also highlights the network of Jewish women who were active patrons of the Wiener Werkstätte, including the socialite and art patron Adele Bloch-Bauer, the journalist Berta Zuckerkandl, the artist Broncia Koller-Pinell, the gallerist Friederike Maria Beer-Monti, and the women's rights advocate Magda Mautner von Markhof. The show also brings attention to the women who worked with the collective and were later killed in the Holocaust or whose fates remain unknown, such as Grete Neuwalder. The exhibition aims to rediscover and reintroduce these once-known artists into our histories, so that they are celebrated and remembered. The Wiener Werkstätte's emphasis on human craftsmanship and its female artists resonates with the rapid-fire technological advancements of our current moment, as we grapple with the impact of industrialization on society and the value of craftsmanship. The exhibition is a reminder of the importance of preserving the human touch in an increasingly automated world.
