Egon Schiele
The Wiener Werkstätte (Viennese Workshops) was a key (and one of the most fascinating) organization for the development of Modernism. Born in Vienna, it stood at the doorway between traditional methods of manufacture and a distinctly avant-garde aesthetic. It hired the most talented artists of the epoch. Initially comprised of Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, and Fritz Waerndorfer, this progressive alliance of artists and designers was particularly interested in challenging industrialized society with individual handcraftsmanship, and in bringing different facets of life into one unified, elegant artwork.
In 1907, the Wiener Werkstätte began publishing a numbered series of postcards, which would ultimately include nearly 1,000 cards. Many of them were designed to celebrate holidays, such as Christmas and Easter. Fashion, both contemporary and historical, became another popular subject, along with humorous topics and favorite tourist spots of the period. These postcards became the cheapest products of the Werkstätte, which were selling (and designing) everything, including furniture, jewelry, glass, and ceramics.