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WILHELM HEJDA (Vienna 1868 - 1942 Vienna)
Peace is drawing closer, 1916
watercolor and indian ink/paper, 20 x 13,5 cm
signed Wilh. Hejda, dated Wien Dez. 1916, inscribed Friede naht

ESTIMATE °€ 200 - 400
STARTING PRICE °€ 200

The sculptor, craftsman, medalist and painter Wilhelm Hejda was often very imaginative and even funny in all artistic areas. Initially influenced by classicism, over time he moved on to Art Nouveau. From 1887 to 1891, he studied sculpture at the Vienna Academy with Kaspar Ritter vron Zumbusch and Edmund Hellmer and in 1891/1892 in Paris as a painting student (guest) at the Académie Julian with Jules-Joseph Lefebvre. From 1892 to 1894, Hejda worked in Budapest, after which he returned to Vienna. Hejda was initially a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus, and from 1900 to 1912 he was a founding member of the Hagenbund. Even before 1900 he belonged to the circle of “Ringstrasse sculptors”. Numerous of his works were installed in public spaces: 1902 figure “Volcano” on the garden facade of the Vienna Hofburg, 1910 relief on the Vienna Urania, 1912 Soldiers' heads and double-headed eagles at the former War Ministry on Vienna's Ringstrasse, 1911/1912 figural decoration at the Technical Museum in Vienna, two stone figures above the portal of the former Landesbank in Vienna 1, Am Hof ​​(today a hotel), Atlases in the teller room of the former Creditanstalt-Bankverein in Vienna 1, Schottengasse, figure decoration at the central bath in Marienbad (Czech Republic), figures at the Kurhaus in Meran, (South Tyrol), figure decoration at the “Meinl-Haus”, Vienna 1, Fleischmarkt 7. He also worked on the imperial anniversaries in both 1898 and 1908 (here with Josef Urban and Heinrich Lefler) and in 1906 on the artistic furnishings of the Vienna River Portal (architects Friedrich Ohmann and Josef Hackhofer). In 1902, Hejda created the arched relief (Pallas Athene) around the hall entrance to the Hagenbund exhibition hall, which was converted by Urban. In the Hagenbund exhibitions, Hejda stood out primarily with small sculptures, medals and pastels. He showed his works in Berlin, Munich, Paris and Venice, among others. After 1918 he hardly exhibited any more and instead worked primarily for private clients. In 1922 Hejda took part in the architectural competition for the “New Building for the Chicago Tribune”. Some of his works are included in the Vienna Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna. Prizes, honours (selection): 1899 Karl Ludwig Medal, 1900 Dobner Prize, 1905 1st prize for the promotion of medal art and small sculpture, 1922 Medal of Honor Chicago, 1923 Salo-Kohn Promotion Prize.

PLEASE NOTE:
The purchase price consists of the highest bid plus the buyer's premium, sales tax and, if applicable, the fee of artists resale rights. In the case of normal taxation (marked °), a premium of 24% is added to the highest bid. The mandatory sales tax of 13%, for photographs 20%, is added to the sum of the highest bid and the buyer's premium.
The buyer's premium amounts to 28% in case of differential taxation. The sales tax is included in the differential taxation.

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