Josef Hoffmann, born in 1870 in Brtnice, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), was an Austrian architect and designer whose work helped define the transition from 19th-century decorative arts to modern design. As a co-founder of the Vienna Secession (1897) and the Wiener Werkstätte (1903), Hoffmann sought to harmonize fine art, craftsmanship and functionality by creating objects and spaces that combined beauty with purpose. The Werkstätte’s output, spanning everything from furniture and jewelry to typography and graphic design, was a testament to his belief in merging artistry and everyday life.
Hoffmann’s design philosophy centered on the principle of Gesamtkunstwerk — the idea of a “total work of art” —in which architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative elements were conceived as a cohesive whole.
Throughout his career, Josef Hoffmann’s work showed his preference for clean lines, geometric patterns, and elegant proportions: his designs rejected excess ornamentation and instead emphasized modern simplicity and the highest level of craftsmanship.
As a professor at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts, Hoffmann nurtured a generation of designers who carried forward his ideals and let his influence extend beyond Austria: the emphasis on simplicity, functionality, and craftsmanship profoundly impacted later design movements, including Bauhaus and the International Style. (ms)