Hidden modernity in the Leopold Museum: discover occultism around 1900!

Hidden modernity in the Leopold Museum: discover occultism around 1900!

The promising exhibition “Hidden Modernity – Fascination of the Occult around 1900” opens in the Leopold Museum in the heart of Vienna on September 4, 2025. Running until January 18, 2026, this spectacular show takes a look at the spirituality and esotericism of the 19th century, a time when the exploration of the mystical and the pursuit of new forms of spirituality boomed. Occultism, a collective term for esoteric phenomena, found fertile ground particularly during this time and is clearly presented in the exhibition with around 180 works of art and 120 objects. The show's curators, Matthias Dusini and Ivan Ristić, pay particular attention to the connection between art and science.

The exhibition refers to the famous quote by Friedrich Nietzsche: “God is dead” and thus addresses the search for alternatives to traditional belief systems. In a time marked by advances in physics, chemistry, and biology, many people had to redefine what spirituality meant to them. Given the upheavals of the French Revolution, urbanization, and the emergence of new social classes, directorial movements such as women's liberation and the vegetarian diet also had their influence on the occult, which was often understood as a refuge for skeptics of scientific rationalism.

The artists and their works

Visitors can look forward to an impressive collection of works by well-known artists that reflect the fascination of the occult. Among others, works by František Kupka, Emil Nolde and Egon Schiele can be seen. An outstanding example that links the works of art is Richard Gerstl's semi-nude, which explores the mystical “aura”. The crowning conclusion of the exhibition is Ferdinand Hodler's work “Look into the Infinite,” which addresses the dark aspects of the human psyche.

The commercialization of the occult is also discussed, which shows how differently this topic can be interpreted. The exhibition therefore offers not only an artistic but also a socially critical look at the time around 1900. This period was influenced by people's need to understand and fathom the invisible and the unknown, which came to the fore particularly strongly in the 19th century.

Occultism in the 19th century

The roots of occultism go back deep into history. It was a reaction to scientific rationalism, which reached its limits in many areas. Interest in esoteric practices, from alchemy to astrology to spiritual séances, increased in the 19th century and found expression in movements such as spiritualism and theosophy. Figures like Allan Kardec and Helena Blavatsky had a decisive influence on this period, questioning traditional belief systems while at the same time opening up new avenues of spiritual exploration.

In summary, the exhibition at the Leopold Museum creates a fascinating bridge between art and esotericism and offers a deep insight into an era in which the pursuit of transcendence and the understanding of the supernatural were sought as an answer to the challenges of the modern world. In this sense, the legacy of occultism is still perceived as significant today and can be found in many modern approaches to spirituality.

For anyone interested, this look into hidden modernity is an absolute must - so head to the Leopold Museum!