Ernst Stohr (1860-1917).

  • Profession: Writer, poet, musician. Secession (member).
  • Residences: Vienna.
  • Relation to Mahler:
  • Correspondence with Mahler:
  • Born: 01-11-1860 Sankt Polten, Austria.
  • Died: 17-06-1917 Sankt Polten, Austria. Aged 56.
  • Buried: 00-00-0000

Ernst Stöhr was one of the co-founders of the Vienna Secession. One would be justified in calling him a pioneer of the Secessionist concept of the total work of art. At the same time, he also one of the main representatives of Austrian Symbolism. The attempt to incorporate the artist’s perception into his works is characteristic of Stöhr’s oeuvre. His paintings have a lyrical quality, with landscapes and scenes bathed in a soft, muted twilight or moonlight, and almost all of his works are symbolic.

Mitzi by Ernst Stohr (1907).

Stöhr’s special musical talent became apparent early on, spanning not just his painting but also his poetry and music. (His father was a violin maker). He did not feel satisfied with his studies at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts from 1877 to 1879 and at the Vienna Academy under C.R. Huber, A. Eisenmenger and L.C. Müller.

In 1896, he became a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus, the Hagenbund and a co-founder of the Vienna Secession, remaining a member until his death. With his high number of programmatic writings in “Ver Sacrum”, Stöhr significantly affected the self-image of this new group of artists, while also being extremely productive during this period. No. 12 of “Ver Sacrum” is dedicated to him, and also includes his designs.

Couple by the lake by Ernst Stohr.

The artist spend much time traveling between St. Pölten, Melk and Wochein, Slovenia, where his cousin Friederike “Fritzi” Tirmann ran a hotel business. He built a studio near her hotel on Lake Wochein and married her. Wochein often served as his motif, as did his parent’s house in St. Pölten, where Stöhr selflessly cared for them until their death. However, Stöhr often suffered from sadness and depression because of caring for and losing those he loved, a mood that also affected his paintings. During this period, Stöhr grappled very intensely with religion and philosophy. In 1915, he was awarded the Reichel Prize for his “Painting of Christ”. The start of the War later turns Wochein into a military zone, again plunging Stöhr into deep depression. In 1917, he is taken to the Tulln Sanatorium, but he is released a few weeks later. Stöhr travels to St. Pölten and on June 17 hangs himself in his parents’ house. In 1918, the Vienna Secession honors his memory in a memorial exhibition of his works.

The 12th issue of Ver Sacrum is dedicated to him alone and is designed by him. Stöhr is intensively involved in numerous exhibitions of the Association, as well as on the important 14th Secession exhibition 1902 (Beethoven exhibition), for which he wrote the catalog foreword.

Catalog foreword for Secession 14 by Ernst Stohr.

Catalog drawing for Secession 14 by Ernst Stohr.

  • Stohr house or Joseph Maria Olbrich (1867-1908)-building in Sankt Polten. At the time of its erection was derided by mocking critics as “House of the Chinese Mission” – is by virtue of its novel approach to facade design coupled with its rich stucco a characteristic example of modern architecture at the transition from the 19th to the 20th century. The large stucco relief of portraying the ancient Greek goddess of health, Hygieia, seen on the facade is the work of Stöhr’s own brother, Ernst Stohr (1860-1917), the St. Pölten painter, who first introduced the architect to the Chief. Like Olbrich, Ernst Stöhr was a founding member of the Wiener Secession which was arguably the big catchment basin for Austrian Jugendstil artists.

If you have found any errors or text needing citation, please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: