Der Raub der Sabinerinnen in der frühen Moderne: Die Integration der jungen Architektinnen in den Diskurs

Abstract

In the early modern period, the inclusion of women in arts and crafts schools led to a significant change in discourse. The first female architects and artists received professional training, which enabled them to make independent contributions and achieve financial independence. From the very beginning, numerous women can be found in the specialised architecture classes of Josef Hoffmann and Oskar Strnad, who completed their training at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts between the academic years of 1898/99 and 1913/14 and were often active in the Wiener Werkstätte. This development was the result of the discovery of the economic potential of arts and crafts and design. This chapter draws a parallel to Roman mythology, in particular the story of the Rape of the Sabine Women, to illustrate the challenges women faced. Like the Sabine women, who were caught between the fronts of their husbands and their families, early modern women artists also had to fight hard for recognition and were often criticised for breaking away from traditional role models. The effects of this change shaped the 20th century and permanently altered the architectural discourse, even if, as Linda Nochlin’s analysis shows, women’s recognition in art history remained limited.