fan leaf / lace

• Fächerblatt aus Spitze mit 2 Soldaten und siebenköpfiges Ungeheuer

• textiles and carpets collection

• design: Anna Rucsinszki
• execution: Staatliche Spitzenschule in Körmöcbanya, Kremnica, 1915

• Jugendstil,
• Modern,

• linen,
• bobbin lace,

• height: 24 cm
• width: 45.5 cm

• T 10073-1075

• dedication, 1935

• Textiles and Carpets Collection

The First World War, more historically momentous and present than most previous wars, had a massive influence on contemporaneous art production. Like other artistic fields, the applied arts rallied to support the attendant upwelling of patriotism. This lace fan shows two soldiers of the Central Powers (from the German Empire and from Austria-Hungary) attacking a seven-headed monster, a hydra. This beast from ancient Greek lore, which grows two new heads for each one that is cut off, was ultimately vanquished by Hercules—with whom these two soldiers would seem to be equated. This object is dated 1915, at which point Emperor Franz Joseph I. was still alive and the war’s fatal consequences for the Habsburg Empire were not yet foreseeable. (Karl, Barbara)

on display

• fan leaf, Fächerblatt aus Spitze mit 2 Soldaten und siebenköpfiges Ungeheuer, Anna Rucsinszki, MAK Inv.nr. T 10073-1075

• https://sammlung.mak.at/en/collect/faecherblatt-aus-spitze-mit-2-soldaten-und-siebenkoepfiges-ungeheuer_116943

• 06.12.2024