Poster for the XIV Exhibition of the Secession 

This is Alfred Roller's poster for the 14th exhibition of the Vienna Secession in 1902, a movement that sought to break away from academic art traditions. The poster presents a stylized female figure, a symbol of the Secession, adorned in patterns that evoke both classical and modern aesthetics. Her downward gaze and the orb she holds suggest introspection. The repeated eye motifs covering her garment might be a reference to society's gaze upon the avant-garde movement. The focus on Klinger and Beethoven in the exhibition points to the Secessionists' broader artistic vision, which aimed to synthesize visual art, music, and literature. Roller, who also worked in theater design, brings a sense of drama to the poster, inviting viewers into the Secession’s Gesamtkunstwerk— the synthesis of multiple art forms into one unifying artwork. The poster reflects the Secession’s desire to create an immersive aesthetic experience, challenging the boundaries of traditional art forms.