Butterflies (Schmatterlingen)

Art Historical Context

**Butterflies (Schmatter)**, a delicate colorograph created in 1907 by Kalhammer for the renowned Wiener Werkstätte, the whimsical beauty of butterflies—known in Viennese dialect as "Schlingen." This tiny print, measuring just 4 13/16 x 3 1/8 inches, exemplifies the Wiener Werkst's mission to infuse everyday design with artistic excellence. Founded in 1903 architects Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser, the collective bridged Art Nouveau's organic elegance with emerging modernism, producing everything from jewelry to graphics that emphasized craftsmanship and harmony between form and function. The color lithograph technique allowed Kalhammer to layer vibrant hues with precision, creating a lively, patterned composition ideal for decorative use—perhaps as a bookplate or label. Butterflies, a recurring motif in Jugendstil (the Austrian Art Nouveau), symbolize transformation and fleeting beauty, rendered here in the Werkstätte's signature stylized geometry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this accession highlights the group's innovative printmaking, which democratized high design through affordable multiples. Visitors will appreciate how this petite gem reflects Vienna's vibrant Secessionist spirit at the dawn of the 20th century, blending nature's grace with forward-thinking aesthetics.