(18.10.1862, Dunaj – 1922, Dunaj)
Theodor Zasche was an Austrian painter, illustrator and caricaturist who captured the character of Vienna at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries in his work. He was born into the family of porcelain painter Josef Zasche, who inspired him to create.
Theodor received his first education in his home circle, and then continued his studies at the Vienna School of Applied Arts. There he was taught by Ferdinand Laufberger and Julius Victor Berger. After his father's death, Zasche took over the family workshop. He soon began to experiment with pastels and illustration. He became known for his lively caricatures, which appeared in numerous magazines of the time in Austria and Germany. His illustrations were published in Der Floh, Wiener Witzblatt and Wiener Luft in Vienna and Lustige Blätter in Berlin and Fliegende Blätter in Munich. In addition to a witty and humorous moment, his images also contained a mild criticism of the political system of the time. He depicted the notorious Viennese society, political figures and cultural life.
He was characterized by precise drawing with a great sense of design. In addition to creating for current magazines, Zasche also designed costumes for the theater and smaller figures and silhouettes for shadow plays. During his life, he collaborated with theater houses in Vienna several times. During the First World War, he also produced some posters with satirical caricatures and those that reflected the social and political commentary of Austria at the time. The artist's style is based on a clear and refined line and a playful approach to caricature depiction.
In 1892, he became a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus. This made him one of the most prominent artists of the time who lived and worked in Vienna. Today, his works are kept in important collections, e.g. in the Albertina, the Vienna Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK). His images still offer a glimpse into the vibrant visual culture of the artist's time.
Theodor Zasche je bil avstrijski slikar, ilustrator in karikaturist, ki je v svoje delo ujel značaj Dunaja ob koncu 19. in začetku 20. stoletja. Rodil se je v družino slikarja na porcelan Josefa Zascheja, ki ga je navdušil za ustvarjanje.
Prvo izobrazbo je Theodor prejel v domačem krogu, nato pa je s študijem nadaljeval na Dunajski šoli uporabnih umetnosti. Tam sta ga poučevala Ferdinand Laufberger in Juliusu Victor Berger. Po očetovi smrti je Zasche prevzel družinsko delavnico. Kmalu je začel eksperimentirati tudi s pasteli in ilustracijo. Postal je znan po svojih živih karikaturah, ki so se znašle v številnih tedanjih revijah na avstrijskem in v Nemčiji. Njegove ilustracije so objavili v Der Floh, Wiener Witzblatt in Wiener Luft v Dunaju ter Lustige Blätter v Berlinu in Fliegende Blätter v Münchnu.
V njegovih podobah se je poleg hudomušnega in humorističnega momenta znašla tudi blaga kritika tedanjega političnega sistema. Upodabljal je razvpito dunajsko družbo, politične predstavnike in kulturno življenje. Zanj je bila značilna precizna risba z velikim smislom za oblikovanje. Poleg ustvarjanja za aktualne revije, je Zasche oblikoval tudi costume za gledališče in manjše figurice in silhuete za senčne igre. V času svojega življenja je večkrat sodeloval z gledališkimi hišami na Dunaju. Med prvo svetovno vojno je izdelal tudi nekaj plakatov s satiričnimi karikaturami in takšne, ki so odražali družbeni in politični komentar takratne Avstrije. Umetnikov slog temelji na jasni in izčiščeni liniji ter na igrivem pristopu h karikaturnemu upodabljanju.
Leta 1892 je postal član Dunajskega Künstlerhausa. S tem je postal eden najbolj uglednih tedanjih umetnikov, ki so živeli in delovali na Dunaju. Danes njegova dela hranijo v pomembnih zbirkah, npr. v Albertini, Dunajskem muzeju in Muzeju uporabnih umetnosti (MAK). Njegove podobe še vedno nudijo pogled v živahno vizualno kulturo umetnikovega časa.
All the artists on the Porta Alpina website can be found at this link.
The text was prepared for the Porta Alpina gallery by Pia Župevec, B.Sc. art history
Besedilo je za galerijo Porta Alpina pripravila Pia Župevec, dipl. um. zgod.
SOURCES/VIRI:
AEIOU Encyclopedia, Theodor Zasche, https://www.aeiou.at/aeiou.encyclop.z/z121338.htm?utm, (11.10.2025).
ARTVEE, Theodor Zasche, https://artvee.com/dl/o-du-gutes-wiener-herz, (11.10.2025).
Der Erste Weltkrieg, https://artvee.com/dl/o-du-gutes-wiener-herz/? (11.10.2025).
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