Broncia Koller-Pinell
1863 – 1934 / Austrian Modernist Artist
Although regarded critically during her lifetime, the Austrian artist Broncia Koller-Pinell stands out as an energetic artist, who was keen to experiment.
Growing up in Vienna
In 1863, the painter was born in Sanok (Austria-Hungary) into an upper-middle class Jewish family. In 1870 she was trained in Vienna by Robert Raab and Alois Delug, and at the Ladies’ Academy of the Munich Artists’ Association by Ludwig von Herterich. Already during her training she is exhibiting early pieces.
Constant artistic change
Koller-Pinell lives through various art movements of the modern age, always working surrounded by great names of her time in culture and the arts. She keeps contact with Gustav Klimt and Heinrich Schröder, whose artistic careers she actively promotes, even though she does not sell her own works. She also worked enthusiastically in the Vienna Secession, as well as in the Kunstschau group.
Defeating public opinion
During her lifetime, Koller-Pinell’s work was often subjected to harsh criticism. Nevertheless, she gained international recognition and participated in more than 50 exhibitions. It was only after her death in 1934 that her son began selling her work.