Am Steinhof Church, Design for the right side altar Guardian Angel 1904

Koloman Moser designed this Guardian Angel for the Am Steinhof Church, and what strikes me is the flat, decorative style. It's like he's building up the image with layers of pattern. I'm drawn to the way Moser uses watercolor. The blues in the angel's wings are really interesting, like a mosaic of color. Each little circle and line feels carefully placed, building a visual texture that's both intricate and airy. And then there's that gold leaf in the background, shimmering like a Byzantine icon. It's such a contrast between the delicate watercolor and the rich, solid gold. The serpent at the bottom – a little squiggle of evil – makes me think of Klimt, who was also playing with these ideas of decoration and symbolism. It feels like they were having a conversation, bouncing ideas off each other. Art is never created in a vacuum, and this piece reminds me that it’s always part of something bigger.