Franz Xaver Messerschmidt's Bizarre Character Heads: A Study in Expression and Madness
From 1770 to 1783, the German-Austrian artist Franz Xaver Messerschmidt crafted 64 character heads that showcased various human grimaces, a project influenced by his struggles with an undiagnosed digestive disorder. To occupy his mind, he would pinch his right lower rib and study his reflections in a mirror prior to sculpting. In 1781, writer Friedrich Nicolai visited Messerschmidt's workshop and remarked on his belief that the heads served as protection against ghosts. After losing his academic role in the 1770s, he returned to Wiesensteig. The sculptures rose to fame following a catalog from a 1794 exhibition. Many were displayed in Vienna in 1793, with names like 'A Hypocrite and a Slanderer.' Psychoanalyst Ernst Kris later diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia. Today, these heads are revered for their realism and are found in prominent museums.
Key facts
- Franz Xaver Messerschmidt created character heads between 1770 and 1783.
- He aimed to depict 64 canonical human facial expressions.
- Messerschmidt suffered from an undiagnosed digestive ailment, possibly Crohn's disease.
- He used self-observation in a mirror after pinching his rib to model expressions.
- German author Friedrich Nicolai visited him in 1781 and published an account.
- The sculptures were exhibited in Vienna in 1793 and titled posthumously.
- An anonymous 1794 exhibition catalog boosted their popularity.
- Psychoanalyst Ernst Kris diagnosed Messerschmidt with paranoid schizophrenia.
Entities
Artists
- Franz Xaver Messerschmidt
- Friedrich Nicolai
- Ernst Kris
Institutions
- The J. Paul Getty Museum
- Österreichische Galerie Belvedere
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Vienna Museum
- Wikimedia Commons
Locations
- Los Angeles
- USA
- Vienna
- Austria
- Pressburg
- Wiesensteig
- Bavarian
- New York City
- NY