“Modern Art in Austria" series: A commemorative stamp for the 1OOt h birthday of Josef Pillhofer
In 7987, Josef Pillhofer, one of the most important Austrian sculptors and draftsmen of the post- war period, created the sculpture ” Bathing Woman” in plaster and bronze, which has been chosen for this commemorative stamp.
The main focus in the works of the Viennese sculptor, born in 1921, has always been on the human figure. The distinguishing feature of his works in stone, wood, clay, bronze and metal are the reduced and abstract representations of the figures. He always worked with simple geometric elements, as exemplified in the motif of the „Bathing Woman", a 72-centimeter sculpture made of plaster and bronze, depicted in this commemorative stamp.
The Viennese-born artist grew up in Mürzzuschlag in Styria. From 1938 to 1941 he attended the School of Applied Arts in Graz and after the end of the war, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna with Professor Fritz Wotruba. Pillhofer later taught at both institutions himself. In 1954 and 1956, he participated in the prestigious Venice Biennale. Since 2008, his works have been on display in the "Pillhofer Skulpturenhalle" in Neuberg an der Mürz. The artist passed away in Vienna in 2010.
The commemorative stamp "Josef Pillhofer - The Bathing Woman" with a face value of EUR 1.80 will be issued 135,000 times in sheets of 50 and will be available from 28 May at all post offices, at post.at/onlineshop and from Österreichische Post AG's Collector Service.
