Greyhound

Art Historical Context

Behold the sleek elegance of *Greyhound* (1912), a color lithograph by Moriz Jung of the renowned Wiener Werkstätte. petite print, measuring just 3 /16 × 5 1/2 inches, the graceful form of a racing hound in vibrant hues, exemplifying the Vienna-based collective's commitment to uniting fine art with everyday design. Founded in 3, the Wiener Werkstätte championed the Gesamtkunstwerk—total artwork—blending craftsmanship with modernism amid Europe's fin-de-siècle fervor, influencing Art Nouveau and early modernism. Jung's lithographic technique shines here: drawn on stone with greasy crayons, the process allowed precise, multi-layered colors that retain the artist's hand while enabling affordable multiples. Ideal for posters, books, or ephemera, such prints democratized luxury design, reflecting Wiener Werkstätte's ethos of beauty in the functional. Greyhounds, symbols of speed and aristocracy, were popular motifs, evoking imperial hunts and modern velocity. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this accessioned gem invites us to appreciate how Jung distilled animal vitality into stylized poise, bridging decorative arts and the avant-garde. A testament to Vienna's golden age of design!

About the Artist

Moriz Jung|Wiener Werkstätte · 1885–1915

Austrian (born Czechoslovakia) Moravia 1885–1915 Manilowa (Carpathians)|