The Museum Age in Austria-Hungary: Art and Empire in the Long Nineteenth Century

This critical study of the history of public art museums in Austria-Hungary explores their role as public institutions, their involvement in the cultural politics of the Habsburg Empire, and their evolution over the long nineteenth century. It demonstrates how museums engaged with political agendas century and reflected and enabled shifting forms of civic identity, professional practice, knowledge production, and the changing composition of the public sphere.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

This comprehensive and critical examination of the history of public art museums in Austria-Hungary delves into their role within the broader context of European museums and collecting, their status as public institutions, and their intricate involvement in the complex cultural politics of the Habsburg Empire. With a focus on institutions in Vienna, Krakow, Prague, Zagreb, and Budapest, The Museum Age in Austria-Hungary traces the evolution of museum culture over the long nineteenth century, from the establishment of imperial art collections in the Belvedere Palace in 1784 (initially as a gallery open to the public) to the dissolution of Austria-Hungary following the First World War. By drawing upon a wide range of source materials from across the empire, the authors unveil the interconnectedness of the rise of museums and display with escalating tensions between the efforts of Viennese authorities to foster a cosmopolitan and multinational social, political, and cultural identity on the one hand, and the rights of national groups and cultures to express themselves on the other. Through a detailed analysis of museum collecting policies, display practices, and architectural designs, the authors demonstrate how museums actively engaged with these political agendas, shaping and reflecting shifting forms of civic identity, emerging professional practices, the production of knowledge, and the composition of the public sphere.

Original in its approach and expansive in scope, this captivating study of the museum age in Austria-Hungary offers valuable insights to students and scholars interested in the cultural and art history of Central Europe. It sheds light on the complex interplay between institutions, politics, and cultural expression, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the historical development of museums and their impact on society.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 177 x 254 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271087115