The Weltausstellung 1873 in Vienna as a Cultural Watershed

Among the European powers, Austria kept its feudal orientation for the longest time, though the 1848 revolutionary upheaval shocked the status quo. Consequently, the emergence of the Vienna Secession under the leadership of Gustav Klimt, a key part of the capital's unprecedented cultural flourishing prior to WWI, may seem unexpected yet undeniably captivating. This chapter examines some frequently neglected but central issues, which not only led to Vienna's Golden Age but also played a vital role in Klimt's artistic evolution. These include, first, the multifaceted and consequential activities of Rudolf von Eitelberger; and second, the impact of the Weltausstellung (World Fair) of 1873 in Vienna on the local milieu, in particular, the unexpected popularity of Japanese culture, which significantly reshaped the capital. The wide range of educational reforms, establishment of the Museum of Art and Industry and the School of Applied Arts, the hosting of the World Fair, and many other events, suggest that the Dual Monarchy made conscious efforts to engage more closely with the Orient as part of a broader strategy to compete with other European powers in multiple arenas, including the cultural field.