Karneval am Markusplatz in Venedig bei Nacht (1887) Art Print | Josef Hoffmann

Josef Hoffmann was an Austrian architect and designer, and a key figure in the Vienna Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte movement. His work was deeply rooted in the idea that beauty and function should coexist harmoniously, and he played a pivotal role in shaping early modernist aesthetics in Central Europe.

Hoffmann’s designs—ranging from buildings and interiors to furniture and textiles—were marked by geometric precision, refined ornamentation, and a meticulous attention to material. His best-known architectural work, the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, is considered a masterpiece of early modern architecture.

As a teacher and theorist, Hoffmann helped define the principles of modern design, influencing generations of architects and designers in Austria and beyond.