Hans Robert Pippal (Vienna 1915 - Vienna 1998)

Today, Hans Robert Pippal is best known for his pictures of Vienna, creating in his own unique "signature style" a monument to the city of his birth to which he remained faithful despite his numerous journeys. Less well known is the fact that his extensive oeuvre also includes works dealing with various other, widely differing subjects and executed in a great variety of different techniques and styles that were informed by his study of early 20th century French art. Hans Robert Pippal would frequently select from these stylistic devices one to fit the subject of the painting. He therefore occupies a special position in Austrian art after World War II.

In 1954, a monograph exhibition at the Vienna Secession - openend by Albert Paris Gütersloh - offered a first survey of the oeuvre of the then thirty-nine-year old artist. All his successive exhibitions were held abroad (in, for example, Hamburg and CuraÁao). This retrospective organised by the Kunsthistorisches Museum is the first ever comprehensive survey of his work.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Böhlau will publish the book "Hans Robert Pippal. Between Innovation and Tradition". It includes, for example, an introduction by Othmar Rychlik, an extensive biography of the artist, an art-historical analysis, numerous illustrations, and a catalogue raisonée of his oil-painting. The book is edited by Martina Pippal, Professor of Art History at the University of Vienna. Brought up in close contact with her parents, and participating in her father´s work since her childhood ("Art on Buildings" etc.), she is ideally suited to edit the monograph, and to assemble the exhibition hosted at the Palais Harrach.