Artur Nikodem, Robert Mann Gallery, NYC

Artur Nikodem
Robert Mann Gallery, New York
January 10 - March 2, 2002

The photographs of Artur Nikodem (1870-1940) are vintage silver prints that were not exhibited or discussed outside of the studio until after his death. The images presented in 'Photographic Essays on Intimacy' provide a comprehensive examination of this rarely seen aspect of Artur Nikodem's creative life. Although he worked as a painter for the bulk of his artistic career, he was also a prolific photographer, documenting the small towns and pastoral beauty of the Austrian countryside as well as the women in his life. Artur Nikodem captures these women, his models and lovers, Gunda Wiese - who died of tuberculosis - and his wife, Barbara Hoyer. These sensual portraits portray the erotic tension between the older artist and his much younger subjects. The body language is reminiscent of the work of Egon Schiele. Artur Nikodem's portraits have also invited comparison to the series of photographs by Alfred Stieglitz of Georgia O'Keefe, similarly characterized by both playful experimentation and somber meditation.

Artur Nikodem was born on February 6, 1870 in Trent, Austria. As a young man, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Milan and Florence. Artur Nikodem then served in the Austrian Navy before settling briefly in Paris, where he was strongly influenced by the works of Monet and Cezanne. Awestruck by the ability of pigment to rearrange and restructure life on canvas, Artur Nikodem began his endeavors as a painter. Unlike his colleagues who employed photographs solely as a tool of study for their paintings, Artur Nikodem's skill with a camera flourished independent of his skill with a brush and canvas. His burgeoning artistic career was delayed by military service during World War I. After the war, Artur Nikodem returned to his home in Innsbruck where he worked as a freelance artist. After a series of successful international exhibitions, Artur Nikodem emerged as spokesman for Tyrolean artists. In later years, the changing political climate resulted in his work being outlawed in Germany and part of his collection in Nuremberg was destroyed. Unable to secure a position at the Viennese Academy, Artur Nikodem withdrew from public life and lived in seclusion with his wife, Barbara Hoyer, until his death on February 10, 1940.

ROBERT MANN GALLERY
210 Eleventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001
www.robertmann.com