Hans Zatzka: A unique fantasy world

During the end of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Hans Zatzka (1859-1945) was a popular artist in Austria. He is best known for his truly unique fantasy paintings, in which he created his own dream world. Zatzka's utopia consisted of soft natural environments in which he placed fairy-tale-like women, often surrounded by flowers, mythological creatures, and animals. These works range from playful scenes with some humorous elements, to women placed in an Oriental environment, to colorful interior scenes where a sensual woman is waiting for her lover. Some of these fantasy paintings are created in a keyhole format, creating the sensation that the viewer is peeking at the models through the keyhole. Zatzka was a very productive artist, and his oeuvre also includes works with a religious theme, mainly Madonna paintings, and still lifes filled with colorful flowers and fruits.

During his career, the art of Hans Zatzka strongly appealed to the lower and middle class citizens, and his paintings ended up with private collectors and local galleries. As a consequence, Zatzka's works have not been on display in major museums over time, severely limiting his exposure to a larger audience. Luckily, many of his works are now regularly sold in auctions, providing us with a glimpse into the mesmerizing world of Hans Zatzka. This richly-illustrated coffee table book provides a stunning overview of the artist and his works.

About the Author
Kappe, Eelco: - "Eelco Kappe has a Ph.D. in Marketing from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Between 2011 and 2018, he worked as a marketing professor at the Pennsylvania State University, and he has several scholarly publications in the top journals in economics, management, marketing, and psychology. In 2018, he decided to follow his passion for art and focus on writing about art. He is the founder of both tripimprover.com, an art history website, and the Amuze - Museum Audio Tours app, which offers audio tours for some of the best art museum in the world. He hopes that his work allows a larger audience to enjoy art."