Madness and modernity - Gemma Blackshaw

With its focus on a specific place and time (Vienna in 1900) and on a specific theme (madness), "Madness and Modernity" sets out to explore artistic, social and psychological themes which provide insights into the madness-modernity nexus that manifested itself in Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century. The book's thematic structure draws out particular examples of the connection between madness and modernity. Designs by Otto Wagner for the Steinhof mental hospital are juxtaposed with expressionist portraits, such as those by Oskar Kokoschka, of patients who were interned there.Self-portraits by Egon Schiele are shown alongside photographs of men with neurological disorders, while art works by psychiatric patients are also reproduced. Throughout, arresting visual material substantiates the links between madness and modernity which not only characterised Viennese society at this time but touched many European communities in the early twentieth century. Including over 100 images, this groundbreaking book includes a number of short chapters which focus on specific works of particular significance.Taken in parts or as a whole, "Madness and Modernity" is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand a fascinating facet of European modernism and society.