Hagenauer Brass Sculpture, Three Rowers in Canoe, Vienna, circa 1930s

Hagenauer Brass Sculpture, Three Rowers in Canoe, Vienna, circa 1930s
This striking Art Deco brass sculpture, attributed to Werkstätte Hagenauer, Vienna, captures three stylized figures in rhythmic motion as they row a long, narrow canoe. The figures are rendered with the signature Hagenauer minimalism, defined by clean, elongated forms, finely modeled heads, and a sense of balance between motion and restraint. The polished brass surface enhances the sense of movement and reflects light beautifully, animating the entire composition.

The canoe form, reduced to its most essential line, arcs elegantly across a wave-like base, emphasizing the harmony between man, craft, and water. This geometric purity is characteristic of Hagenauer’s work during the late 1920s through 1930s, a period when the Vienna workshop was redefining modernist sculpture through stylized human forms and functional design aesthetics.

This piece exemplifies the atelier’s unique blend of sculpture and design, where form meets motion and decorative art meets modern abstraction. The Hagenauer family workshop, founded by Carl Hagenauer and later led by Karl Hagenauer, was internationally celebrated for its ability to fuse elegance with humor, craftsmanship with modernity. The firm’s brass creations remain among the most sought-after examples of Viennese modernist design.