Influential Austrians of the 19th and 20th Centuries Who Shaped Diverse Fields
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Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Austria served as a nurturing ground for remarkable individuals who left an indelible mark across diverse domains such as art, literature, science, politics, and beyond. Among these luminaries were many who belonged to the Jewish community and found refuge in the United States and other countries, fleeing the oppressive reign of the Nazi regime. This article celebrates these prominent Austrian figures whose contributions continue to inspire and shape our world.
Berta Zuckerkandl
1864, Vienna — 1945, Paris
Berta Zuckerkandl, the committed journalist and adept translator, assumed a pivotal role in Vienna during the fin-de-siècle era. Her salon emerged as a distinguished rendezvous point for the nation’s intellectual elite, drawing together illustrious artists, influential politicians, and prominent business magnates. Through her incisive articles, she ardently championed the artistic avant-garde with exceptional insight.
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
1851, Brünn — 1914, Kramsach
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk stands as a foundational figure in the Austrian School of Economics. His capital theory posits that entrepreneurs’ profits are essential for the creation of a national product, placing him in direct contrast to the views of Karl Marx.
Herman Bahr
1863, Linz — 1934, Munich
Hermann Bahr held a significant role as a poet, essayist, and critic in the realms of theater, literature, and art during the turn of the century. He rose to prominence as a leading figure and advocate for the Young Vienna literary movement, served as an advisor to the Secession, and crafted influential manifestos for Ver Sacrum. While his literary works are mostly forgotten today, his profound impact on Viennese Modernism remains immeasurable.
Ernst Mach
1838, Brno — 1916, Vaterstetten
Ernst Mach, the physicist and philosopher, earned his place as a trailblazer in the history of science. Mach numbers, a metric that measures speed relative to the speed of sound, bear his name. In psychology, he made groundbreaking contributions to gestalt theory and became particularly renowned within the Viennese modernist movement for coining the phrase “the unsalvageable ego.”
Ludwig Boltzmann
1844, Vienna — 1906, Dulno
Ludwig Boltzmann occupies a pivotal position in the zenith of classical 19th-century physics. His pioneering methods paved the path for the emergence of quantum theory and the theory of relativity. His contributions to philosophy remain somewhat eclipsed by his scientific accomplishments.
Peter Altenberg
1859, Vienna — 1919, Vienna
Peter Altenberg, whose real name was Richard Engländer, emerged as a prominent figure in the vibrant world of Viennese Bohemianism. His literary oeuvre is comprised entirely of short prose sketches that vividly capture the social life of his time. He is revered as a primary representative of what is commonly referred to as “coffeehouse literature.”
Emilie Flöge
1874, Vienna — 1952, Vienna
Emilie Flöge, a prominent fashion designer in Vienna during the turn of the century, held a distinguished position in the fashion world. Her salon, “Schwestern Flöge,” stood as the premier fashion destination for the elite of Viennese society. Her innovative “reform dress” designs represented a departure from conventional norms. Moreover, she played a pivotal role as the muse and companion of the renowned artist Gustav Klimt.
Hens Kelsen
1881, Prague — 1973, Berkeley
Hans Kelsen ranks among the most influential legal theorists and advocates of legal positivism in the 20th century. He is the mastermind behind the Austrian constitution of 1920, the majority of which continues to shape the legal framework to this day.
Lise Meiner
1878, Vienna — 1968, Cambridge
Lise Meitner, the physicist, made history by becoming the first woman to attain the position of a physics professor in Germany in 1926. In 1939, she authored the initial physical-theoretical elucidation of nuclear fission, a groundbreaking achievement for which her colleague Otto Hahn received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1944. Unfortunately, Lise Meitner was not considered for the Nobel Prize.
Franz Kafka
1883, Prague — 1924, Klosterneuburg
Franz Kafka stands as a pivotal figure in modernist literature. His stories and novel fragments navigate a complex maze of incomprehensible relationships, seemingly drawn from the convoluted administrative bureaucracy of the Habsburg empire. The majority of his literary creations were published posthumously, adding an air of mystery and fascination to his enduring legacy.
Victor Adler
1852, Prague — 1918, Vienna
Born into affluence, Victor Adler emerged as one of the foremost early figures in Austrian Social Democracy. His remarkable leadership skills allowed him to bridge the divides between various factions within the labor movement, culminating in the formation of a cohesive party that could secure a majority of support.
Arnold Schönberg
1874, Vienna — 1951, Los Angeles
Arnold Schönberg is esteemed as one of the preeminent composers of the 20th century. He held a central role within the Second Vienna School, pushing late-Romantic tonality to its ultimate limits, ultimately giving rise to the groundbreaking twelve-tone method. Intriguingly, between 1906 and 1911, he also focused intensively on the world of painting.
Erwin Schrödinger
1887, Vienna — 1961, Vienna
Erwin Schrödinger, the physicist, is widely considered as one of the pioneering architects of quantum mechanics. His most renowned achievement came in 1926 when he articulated the iconic equation that now bears his name. In recognition of his groundbreaking contributions, Schrödinger was honored with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933 for his discoveries that advanced the atomic theory in innovative ways.
Dora Kallmus
1881, Vienna — 1963, Frohnleiten
In 1907, the photographer Dora Kallmus, in partnership with Arthur Benda, established a photography studio in Vienna using the pseudonym Madame d’Ora. At this studio, she skillfully captured the essence of some of the most illustrious figures from 20th-century art, fashion, aristocracy, and politics. Her portfolio includes a remarkable range of subjects, from her initial photograph of Gustav Klimt in 1908 to her final session with Pablo Picasso in 1956.
Wilhelm Reich
Dobrianychi, 1897–1957, Lewisburg
Wilhelm Reich, a multifaceted scholar, delved into the fields of psychiatry, psychoanalysis, sex research, and sociology. However, his association with the International Psychoanalytical Association came to an end due to a rift with Sigmund Freud. In his pioneering research, Reich introduced the concept of sexual economics and put forth his theory of “orgone,” a unique hypothesis about a form of biological energy.
Arthur Roessler
1977, Vienna — 1955, Vienna
The art theorist Arthur Roessler played a pivotal role in nurturing emerging talents through both his written works and personal connections. His most notable discovery and advocacy was for Egon Schiele, whom he not only promoted but also collected his art. Roessler’s writings stand as a significant contribution to the historical documentation of the artists associated with Austrian Modernism.
Karl Kraus
1874, Jitschin — 1936, Vienna
Karl Kraus is widely regarded as one of the foremost cultural critics of the 20th century within the German-speaking world. He established his magazine, “Die Fackel” (The Torch), in 1899, and continued to contribute to it until his passing, amassing an astonishing body of nearly 20,000 pages of incisive writing. His monumental drama on the First World War, “Die letzten Tage der Menschheit” (The Last Days of Mankind), remains a formidable and thought-provoking piece for any theater to undertake.
Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach
1830, Kremsier — 1916, Vienna
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach’s psychological narratives establish her as one of the most significant women authors of the 19th century. Her diverse body of work, notably the novella “Krambambuli,” earned her widespread acclaim and popularity. Beyond her literary prowess, she was a prominent figure who consistently championed humanism and conveyed a strong sense of moral integrity.
Sigmund Freud
1856, Freiberg — 1939, London
Sigmund Freud, renowned as the progenitor of psychoanalysis, emerges as one of the foremost intellectual giants of the 20th century. He innovatively devised a method for dissecting the dreams and associations of his patients, unraveling the intricacies of the human psyche. Beyond his groundbreaking contributions to psychology, Freud authored profoundly influential works on cultural theory and offered critical perspectives on religion.
Karl Landsteiner
1867, Baden near Vienna — 1943, New York
Dr. Karl Landsteiner is celebrated for his groundbreaking discovery of the blood type system in 1900, a pivotal achievement that rendered blood transfusions possible for the very first time. His remarkable contributions to medical science earned him the Nobel Prize in 1930, cementing his legacy. Landsteiner’s dedication to hematology persisted, and he later uncovered the rhesus factor, further advancing our understanding of blood and its properties.
Adolf Loos
1870, Brno — 1933, Vienna
Adolf Loos is hailed as one of the pioneering figures in modern architecture, leaving an indelible mark on the field. Beyond his architectural innovations, he distinguished himself as a formidable architectural critic and cultural commentator. Notably, Loos ignited a fervent debate over the concept of the unadorned facade through his design for the House on Michaelplatz in 1911, which sparked international controversy and reshaped architectural discourse.
Franz Werfel
1890, Prague — 1945, Beverly Hills
The novels penned by writer Franz Werfel achieved significant commercial success during the 1920s and 1930s, firmly establishing his literary reputation. He is recognized as a prominent figure in expressionist poetry. Notably, Werfel began a relationship with Alma Mahler in 1918, eventually formalizing their union in marriage in 1929. In 1940, he and Alma fled to the United States, seeking refuge from the Nazis.
