Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1963) was an Austrian painter and writer who was one of the leading exponents of Expressionism, an style of art that focuses on depicting the world in a distorted one-way view that promotes a strong emotional response. In this production, he is partially responsible for the creation of The Doll.

Kokoschka had a very difficult upbringing. At a very young age, his family was hit with financial tragedy and was forced to move to Vienna. Yet, Oskar discovered his passion for art through the stained glass windows of Vienna. As a very bright young man, he earned a scholarship to attend a top art school in Vienna where he cultivated his craft and was commissioned to aid in many pieces. After advancing to a teacher at the school, Oskar craved to express himself in other ways. He was fascinated by the human figure- its shapes, its curves, its capacity for wonders.

Oskar took this fascination to the theatre. He wrote plays that dealt with humanist philosophy. One worthy mention would be “Murderer, Hope of Women”, where he dives into the complexities of life while exposing the political injustices in Vienna. After his time in the theatre, he returned to teaching at one of Vienna’s art schools. During this time Der Sturm, a weekly literature piece, showcased his drawings. Unfortunately, as his play gained more traction, the negative reviews piled up. Eventually, Oskar lost his teaching position due to the public reaction to “Murderer, Hope of Women”.

In 1911 Kokoschka met a beautiful widow, seven years his senior, named Alma Mahler. They had a tumultuous relationship that lasted for 3 years. Alma became his muse. They fell deeply for one another, inspiring Oskar along the way. Alma was the center of a lot of his pieces. He admired her like he admired no one else. Unfortunately, Oskar’s love was too stifling for Alma. Their relationship came to end when Oskar went to fight in World War 1.

 

 

Oskar joined the War efforts and volunteered to aid the calvary. Although he volunteered to go, people suspect it was his last attempt to please Alma (she called him a coward on multiple occasions). His time on the battlefield was short and brutal. He was punctured in the lungs by bayonet and had a head injury. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was reported dead in the newspapers. Luckily, he survived his wounds in a hospital in Dresden, which became another muse for his art. His life was saved, but Oskar suffered from horrible hallucinations and PTSD from his time in the war. His mind was fragile, which made his attachment to Alma grow stronger and stronger. In her absence, he ordered a life-like doll replica. He treated the doll, as he treated Alma. In the mornings he would teach at Dresden Academy of Art, and by night he would stroll the town with his doll.

During the rise of tension in Germany, Oskar moved to Prague to distance himself from the situation. There, 20 years after Alma, he met his wife Olda. When Germany gained control over some parts of Czechoslovakia, they fled to London and spent the rest of their days there. Based on Oskar’s letters, he seemed to have a very restful life. No more fear of war and no more death. He was at peace.

Citations:

Goldscheider, L. (2021, February 25). Oskar Kokoschka. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oskar-Kokoschka

Sidelnikova, A. (2019, July 2). Love story in paintings: Oskar Kokoschka, alma Mahler and Olda Palkovská. Arthive. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://arthive.com/publications/3811~Love_story_in_paintings_Oskar_Kokoschka_Alma_Mahler_and_Olda_Palkovsk