If one is called a painter and draughtsman of decadentism, one can imagine that the works of this artist are not characterized by harmless landscape paintings. The Austrian graphic artist, illustrator and painter Franz von Bayros became famous above all for his sensual illustrations for numerous classics of erotic literature. Yet despite the sometimes drastic motifs such as sexual acts of women with animals and mythical creatures, von Bayros' works never appear pejorative or hurtful, but impress with his talent for composition, his love of detail, his fine style and the sterilization of the woman as the most beautiful object in the world.
Franz von Bayros was born in Zagreb in 1866. His family belonged to the nobility and many of his ancestors held high-ranking military posts in the service of the Habsburgs. However, von Bayros was not very interested in the military and much more in painting and art. Even as a young man he was fascinated by the beauty and elegance of women and they soon became his central motif. After his training in Vienna, von Bayros moved for many years to Munich, the then art metropolis of the German Empire and at the same time a lively publishing city. The artist quickly made a name for himself as a draughtsman and illustrator for numerous books, and after attending a famous art school in Dachau and Munich, von Bayros developed his own unique style. This was followed by successful exhibitions, even more commissioned works for books and classics and above all a pronounced love of the rococo. His obviously sexual and not very subtle drawings inspired and shocked the art scene at the same time, until the political organs in the German Empire got fed up. In 1911 the censorship put pressure on von Bayros and he finally had to leave Munich and return to Vienna.
While Bayros had risen to the highest cultural and artistic circles in Munich, it was difficult for him to rejoin them in Vienna. The poor order situation in the literary market led to a low income, and in addition, the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 destroyed a long-awaited emigration to Rome. His deep identification with the German Reich and its collapse led to severe depressions in the last years of von Bayros' life. Although he was able to achieve another resounding success with illustrations for Dante's classic "Divine Comedy" in 1921, the work on the drawings had exhausted him physically and mentally, so that he suffered a physical collapse while still working on the work. In addition, financial problems due to the devaluation of the Austrian Crown, which haunted him until the end of his life. Franz von Bayros died impoverished in Vienna in 1924.
If one is called a painter and draughtsman of decadentism, one can imagine that the works of this artist are not characterized by harmless landscape paintings. The Austrian graphic artist, illustrator and painter Franz von Bayros became famous above all for his sensual illustrations for numerous classics of erotic literature. Yet despite the sometimes drastic motifs such as sexual acts of women with animals and mythical creatures, von Bayros' works never appear pejorative or hurtful, but impress with his talent for composition, his love of detail, his fine style and the sterilization of the woman as the most beautiful object in the world.
Franz von Bayros was born in Zagreb in 1866. His family belonged to the nobility and many of his ancestors held high-ranking military posts in the service of the Habsburgs. However, von Bayros was not very interested in the military and much more in painting and art. Even as a young man he was fascinated by the beauty and elegance of women and they soon became his central motif. After his training in Vienna, von Bayros moved for many years to Munich, the then art metropolis of the German Empire and at the same time a lively publishing city. The artist quickly made a name for himself as a draughtsman and illustrator for numerous books, and after attending a famous art school in Dachau and Munich, von Bayros developed his own unique style. This was followed by successful exhibitions, even more commissioned works for books and classics and above all a pronounced love of the rococo. His obviously sexual and not very subtle drawings inspired and shocked the art scene at the same time, until the political organs in the German Empire got fed up. In 1911 the censorship put pressure on von Bayros and he finally had to leave Munich and return to Vienna.
While Bayros had risen to the highest cultural and artistic circles in Munich, it was difficult for him to rejoin them in Vienna. The poor order situation in the literary market led to a low income, and in addition, the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 destroyed a long-awaited emigration to Rome. His deep identification with the German Reich and its collapse led to severe depressions in the last years of von Bayros' life. Although he was able to achieve another resounding success with illustrations for Dante's classic "Divine Comedy" in 1921, the work on the drawings had exhausted him physically and mentally, so that he suffered a physical collapse while still working on the work. In addition, financial problems due to the devaluation of the Austrian Crown, which haunted him until the end of his life. Franz von Bayros died impoverished in Vienna in 1924.
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