A Series of Paintings by Wilhelm Gause
The unique world of the West Bohemian spa towns has its own order, rhythm, atmosphere, scent, and spirit. Between 1894 and 1896, Wilhelm Gause painted his remarkable series of Karlovy Vary paintings on commission from the city council, which was seeking a worthy gift for loyal guests and eminent visitors. The result was a set of 29 graphic sheets—photolithographs produced in Vienna by R. Paulussen from Gause’s originals.
Wilhelm Gause was born on 27 March 1853 in Krefeld. From 1871 he studied under Eduard von Gebhardt at the Academy in Düsseldorf, and after 1879 he worked in Vienna. He spent the later years of his life in Stein an der Donau, where he died in June 1916.
Gause gained fame for his genre scenes, and by the late 19th century, he was widely sought after as a skilled illustrator for magazines across Europe. He produced countless drawings and gouaches as templates for wood engravings, capturing everyday life in Vienna. His works are represented in numerous Viennese museums and galleries.
Some of his most celebrated works include the frequently reproduced gouache Races at Freudenau from the 1880s, The Bulgarian Deputy before His Voters, and the paintings Viennese Ball and Court Ball.
Art literature ranks the Karlovy Vary series among his finest works. The original paintings are preserved in the collections of the Karlovy Vary Museum. Beyond the old-world charm of the world-famous spa, the Karlovy Vary themes convey a spirit of mutual tolerance and friendship among people.
Karlovy Vary Museum