The Poster for the First Secession Exhibition (censored version) (1. Kunstausstellung Secession) by Gustav Klimt is a foundational artifact of Viennese modernism, created in 1898 as a striking lithograph. This pivotal graphic design piece served as the visual announcement for the inaugural showing of the newly formed Vienna Secession, an organization dedicated to promoting innovative art and challenging the established academic conservatism of the Künstlerhaus.
The imagery employed by Klimt is highly symbolic. It features the Greek hero Theseus, who is depicted slaying the Minotaur, representing the victory of the new Secession artists over the conventional forces they viewed as stifling artistic progress. The goddess Athena oversees the action from the upper left, symbolizing the guiding presence of wisdom and truth in the artistic struggle. This bold design, however, immediately generated controversy within conservative Austrian society.
The original conception of the poster depicted Theseus fully nude, a detail deemed morally offensive by censors. Consequently, Klimt was obliged to modify the design for public distribution, resulting in this "censored version." Here, a large branch strategically covers Theseus’s groin, illustrating the inherent tension between the Secession’s radical agenda and the prevailing prudish norms of 1898 Vienna.
Klimt’s use of bold, simplified lines and graphic flatness was revolutionary for advertising design at the time. The work not only promoted the exhibition but established a distinct visual identity for the Secession movement. This historic piece, significant for both its artistic merit and its historical narrative concerning censorship and the rise of modernism, is part of the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art. As an influential example of early modern design, various prints of this masterwork are widely known and circulated, with versions of the design having entered the public domain.
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