Literature

Literature in Vienna 1900 [Details]

[Deutsch]

Peter Altenberg (1859-1919)

Leopold von Andrian (1875-1951)

Hermann Bahr (1863-1943)

Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874-1929)

Karl Kraus (1874-1936)

Robert Musil (1880-1942)

Alfred Polgar (1873-1955)

Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931)

Bertha von Suttner(1843-1914)


Vienna 1900 was the European capital of literary Impressionism. Emerging as a protest against the sterile formalism and overwrought complexity of aestheticism, the watchword of literary impressionism was "simplicity is the seal of truth." Impressionism exploited linguistically compact lyric and prose forms. Its primary genres were the aphorism, the feuilleton, the short story, and the sketch. The hallmark of literary impressionism is a melding of the subjective emotions of the author with the surrounding objective, social world. External events often become mere occasions for the exploration of subjective emotions and attitudes. Stylistically, impressionism is marked by a succinct, telegraphic use of language that exploits innuendo, plays on words, biting wit, and humor.