Etching, aquatint, on a sheet of colored vellum paper, 45 x 30 cm (plate impression), mounted in a frame measuring 63 x 46 cm; limited edition, hand-numbered 92/99 and signed in pencil by the artist.
Ernst Fuchs is an outstanding representative of fantastic realism, whose art, though sometimes controversial and intense, enjoyed great popularity and acclaim, especially in the second half of the 20th century, and to this day holds its place in art history among enthusiasts of visionary art.
He was one of the co-founders of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism, a movement (founded in 1948) that combined the precise technique of the Old Masters with symbolism and fantastical, often psychedelic, themes.
His works were dominated by religious themes (particularly biblical ones, such as the triptych for the Rosenkranzkirche in Vienna), mythological motifs, and a strong penchant for symbolism. Fuchs’s works were characterized by a love of color and clean lines. In his later work, the intensity of his colors and their combinations were so bold that he earned the nickname “Feuerfuchs” (Fire Fox), and his paintings were described as “hallucinogenic.”
He drew inspiration from Art Nouveau (e.g., Gustav Klimt), Expressionism, the avant-garde, and classical painting.
Fuchs was recognized worldwide not only as a painter but also as a sculptor, set designer (e.g., for Richard Wagner’s operas), and engraver.
His work was enthusiastically received by young artists in the United States, who hailed him as their guru. He achieved fame and wealth. Fuchs’s distinctive appearance—a luxuriant red beard and a kepi he decorated himself—made him highly recognizable and gave him the air of a prophet.
The enduring nature of his popularity and legacy is evidenced by the existence of the Ernst Fuchs Museum in Vienna, housed in Otto Wagner’s villa, which the artist himself renovated and furnished. Fuchs also collaborated with renowned companies such as Rosenthal (porcelain), which expanded the reach of his art beyond traditional galleries.
