Kokoschka’s Odyssey

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Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980) devoted a major part of his late work to illustrating great ancient texts. Homer’s Odyssey held a prominent place and became one of his most ambitious projects. In an impressive series of lithographs, the artist identified deeply with Odysseus – the wandering, deeply human hero who embodies both strength and vulnerability. Kokoschka’s works go far beyond mere illustration: they are a compelling engagement with human existence, its trials and hopes, while also reflecting his own life, marked by conflict and exile. Fascinated by the narrative as well as the moral dimension of the epic, Kokoschka understood the Odyssey as a symbol of an inner search for reconciliation. His intense, expressive visual language gives shape to this personal reflection and unfolds a visual world in which allegory and metaphor play a central role. With this series of works, Kokoschka formulates a universal message of freedom, resilience, responsibility and courage – and invites you to shape life consciously and fully despite all adversity. An exhibition under the direction of Aglaja Kempf, curator of the Oskar Kokoschka Foundation.