Max Dvořák and Austrian Denkmalpflege at War

Abstract

As was often the case with Vienna School art historians, Max Dvořák (1874-1921) contributed a significant amount to the theory and practice of monument preservation. This paper considers his reactions to the precarious situation of artistic heritage during and after the first world war, which he conceived as a conflict between spiritual and material values. In writings that betray a less than objective patriotism, Italy emerges as Dvořák’s principal antagonist, whilst critical voices in Austria – that of Karl Kraus in particular – undermined his position by calling for an end to the so-called monument cult.

Keywords

• Dvořák
• cult of monuments
• war
• patriotism