Cup or Chalice 

This is Josef Hoffmann’s design for a “Cup or Chalice,” rendered in pencil on graph paper. Hoffmann was a leading figure of the Viennese Secession, the Austrian version of Art Nouveau. Like other Secessionists, Hoffmann was frustrated with academic art institutions and sought to revolutionize design by integrating art into everyday life. This drawing reveals the movement’s emphasis on clean lines and functional forms. The cup’s geometric shape and the use of vertical lines, suggest a modern sensibility, rejecting the ornate styles of the past. Made in Austria, it is hard not to notice that this design strips down the traditional religious chalice, thus, we may ask if it secularizes it. The circle in the middle almost looks like the sun, which could also be taken as the host. To fully understand Hoffmann's motivations, art historians consult manifestos, design journals, and exhibition catalogs. Such research contextualizes the work, revealing its dialogue with contemporary social and institutional debates. Ultimately, Hoffmann’s chalice embodies a moment of cultural transformation, mirroring the Secession's broader efforts to redefine the role of art in society.