The Vienna Secession group consisted of Anton Stark, Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, Adolf Böhm, Maximilian Lenz, Ernts Stöhr, Wilhelm List, Emil Orlik, Maximilian Kurzweil, Leopold Stolba, Carl Moll and Rudolph Bacher. The group was formed in 1897 and comprised of painters, sculptors and architects (Steyn, 2018). The Viennese Secession involved young artists popularizing modern art and rejecting traditional methods (Unknown, n.d.). The Secessionists were also inspired by Japanese art and design, appreciating the use of organic matter, the workmanship and the effective use of space. The Secessionists preferred flat shapes and less complex designs, incorporating geometric patterns without losing the organic feel.

Koloman Moser’s furniture artwork entitled, “Inlaid Armoire from the Bedroom of the Eisler-Terramare Apartment”, was created in 1903 and believed to be a fine representation of the modern lifestyle in Vienna during the early 1900s (Unknown, n.d.). Moser believed that even supposedly mundane objects, such as furniture, could be a work of art, depending on its design and quality of materials and labour. The design of the cupboard consists of several squares and rectangles, making the design simple. Although there are many geometric shape, the design still has a hint of natural form, as seen in the inclusion of the female figures. The natural and flat colours add to the simple look as well.

The set of side tables in figure 2 were created in a Viennese manufactory during 1910-1919. Like Moser’s cupboard, these tables are made up of good quality materials and excellent workmanship (Unknown, 2021). Each table has a design displaying poppies and roses. This set of furniture agrees with Moser’s ideology that everyday objects had the potential to become artworks.

The Viennese Secession ended in 1905 when its members separated (Unknown, n.d.). Although the Secessionists were together for less than a decade, these artists left a long lasting impression on Vienna and perhaps Europe (Unknown, n.d.).