“Head strips,” an illustration by Koloman Moser, was created in 1896 in Austria and is an example of the Art Nouveau (Modern) art movement. The artwork’s dimensions are 35 x 43.9 cm. Moser, as an artist, has significantly contributed to the development of the Art Nouveau movement, and this piece is evidence of his involvement and stylistic choices during that period.
In the artwork, an assemblage of peculiar and stylized panels can be seen, each with its own composition and color scheme, predominantly in shades of burnt orange, black, and white. The top left panel features a decorative initial ‘B’ entwined within an organic motif, while the adjacent top right panel presents a face encased in a circular border, reminiscent of a moon or portrait medallion.
The central strip is more figurative and vivid. It depicts a reclining nude figure with a stark contrast between the vibrant orange flesh tones and the flowing black hair. The figure seems to be immersed in a dreamlike state, surrounded by a background of sinuous forms and patterns that evoke a strong sense of movement and vitality.
Below, two contrasting panels provide a conceptual dichotomy. On the left is a lively, smirking face adjacent to flowering branches, perhaps showing the lighter side of life. Conversely, to the right, is a face shrouded in darkness with an exaggerated grimacing mouth, representing a more macabre or sorrowful aspect.
The presence of floral motifs, a hallmark of the Art Nouveau movement, provides unity throughout the disparate elements, while the distinct delineation and graphic quality of the piece underscore its nature as an illustration. Through this work, Moser offers an exploration of human emotion and the natural world, interwoven with the decorative elegance characteristic of his era’s artistic tendencies.
