Arthur Strasser

ARTHUR STRASSER (Adelsberg, Germany, 1854-1927).
"The snake charmer".
Cold enameled bronze.
Signed, titled and with function stamp.
With plaque Médaille Beaux-Arts, Paris.
Measurements: 48 x 30 x 21 cm.

Arthur Strasser gives us the image of a snake charmer who sounds a flute or a pungi to attract the animal. The young man, completely dedicated to his task, wears traditional clothing based on a wide tunic and a turban on his head. The snake, which could well be a cobra, twists on itself in a dancing posture. Technically, the laborious work of the charmer stands out, captured with a precision, naturalism and expressiveness that denote not only mastery on the part of the sculptor, but also a careful study of the natural.

Arthur Strasser was a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus (1886-91 and 1907-27) and of the Munich and Vienna Secessions (1898-1900). In 1896 he created a first model that was exhibited in Berlin and at the Vienna Künstlerhaus Exhibition of 1896, for which he received the Reichel Prize.

The tradition of small Viennese bronze sculpture dates back to the middle of the 19th century, with as many as fifty craftsmen living in the capital at the turn of the century. Several foundries began to specialize in the so-called "cold enameling" technique. Several layers were applied to the raw bronze, resulting in a fine, shiny finish charged with naturalism. However, it was important to apply this film when the bronze was still hot, as the temperature contrast contributed to the permanence of the color, which remained fixed to the metal. Since it was not fired, following the usual process, it became known as "cold enameling".