In 1911, the Wiener Werkstätte established its own fashion department, driven by the idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) that aimed to encompass all aspects of life. Among other artists, Maria Likarz-Strauss, student at the Kunstgewerbeschule at the time, contributed designs for the Mode Wien 1914/5 portfolio, a series of fashion design works that showcased the emerging modernist aesthetics of Vienna. This portfolio consisted of 12 sets, with the first edition printed in 100 copies and following editions in only 50 copies which were intended as demonstration pieces for potential customers in the Wiener Werkstätte shops and studios, rather than for collectors.
The colored linocut named "fashion illustration of a lady in a long winter outfit" by Likarz, was created during the early 1910s, a time when fashion was transitioning from the heavily adorned, corseted styles of the late 19th century to more streamlined, practical clothing. The dress illustrated in this design likely reflects the emerging. Her work in this collection, along with her broader body of work, drew heavily on modern art movements, resulting in this design of innovative shape. (ms)