Die fünf Sinne: Das Gesicht

About this artwork

Allgemeiner Katalogtext siehe Frodl, Makart, 2013, Kat. Nr. 392/1–5.

Art Historical Context

Hans Makart’s “Die fünf Sinne: Das Gesicht” (1872/1879) forms one panel in a grand allegorical cycle devoted to the human senses. A leading figure of Viennese historicism, Makart was celebrated for his opulent, theatrical compositions that blended academic precision with sensual richness. Painted in oil on canvas and measuring over three meters in height, the narrow vertical format suggests the work was conceived as part of an architectural or decorative ensemble, typical of the artist’s large-scale projects for Viennese patrons. The painting personifies sight through an elegant female figure whose gaze engages the viewer directly, embodying both the physical act of seeing and its symbolic resonance in 19th-century culture. Makart’s fluid brushwork and luminous palette heighten the sensory immediacy of the image, inviting contemplation of perception itself. Housed in the Belvedere Collection in Vienna, this work exemplifies the era’s fascination with allegory and the celebration of human experience, offering visitors a vivid window into the artistic ambitions of late-19th-century Austria.

About the Artist

Hans Makart · 1840–1884

Comment on works: History; Genre