The Quiet Observer of Moravia
Born in Austerlitz, Moravia, in 1893, Josef Gassler lived through a period of profound transformation and hardship. His early years were marked by the promise of the Wiener Kunstakademie, where his talent was recognized with several awards, including the Prix de Rome. However, the onset of the First World War disrupted his trajectory, casting a shadow over his mid-career. The weight of extreme poverty and the chaos of war seeped into his brushwork, steering him toward melancholy subjects. His style began to carry an emotional charge, often leaning into the Neue Sachlichkeit movement, capturing the stark reality of a changing world.
Between 1927 and 1930, Gassler found himself in Paris, a period that coincided with his travels through Italy, the South of France, and Prague. He eventually settled in the Czech Republic, finding a sense of recognition in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Prague. During these years, his creativity extended beyond the canvas; he designed porcelain and glass for Moser and other Czechoslovak manufacturers, and his hand guided the creation of murals and theatrical scenery.
A Life Shaped by Change
The political shifts of the mid-20th century brought significant challenges to his work. As Fascism rose and the concept of degenerate art was introduced in Germany, followed by the German invasion of Czechoslovakia and the subsequent Communist occupation, his career faced difficult interruptions. These historical pressures were not merely external events but forces that shaped the very substance of his output.
In 1945, Gassler returned to Vienna. In this final chapter of his life, his focus shifted toward the intimate and the natural. He spent much of his time painting:
- Portraits
- Landscapes
- Flower studies
His presence in the art world was felt through exhibitions in the Salon des Indépendants, the Wiener Sezession, the Kuenstlerhaus, and the Rudolfinum. On his 70th birthday, he was honored with the Golden Laurel award from the Wiener Kuenstlerhaus. Today, his paintings reside in the Oesterreichische Galerie and in private collections across Austria, Germany, England, and the United States.
