Anton Seder (1850–1916) was a designer, art professor, and eventually Director of the prestigious Kunstgewerbeschule, or School of Arts and Crafts, in Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine. Over the course of his career, he became recognized as one of the leading botanical illustrators of the Art Nouveau period.
This design was inspired by one of Seder’s most celebrated works. Originally created as a chromolithograph on paper, the piece appeared in Die Pflanze in Kunst und Gewerbe, or The Plant in Art and Trade. Published in Vienna in 1890, the collection spans two volumes and contains more than 200 exquisite illustrations that elevate natural forms into works of decorative art.
Now held in The Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles, the design embodies the layered artistic influences present in Strasbourg at the time, which was shaped by both French and German culture. Subtle stylistic echoes of Baroque elements and Japanese woodblock printing can be seen in the overlapping shapes and unique composition.
The original print was entitled Chrysanthemum Fragaria, with “fragaria” referring to strawberries, which can be seen woven through the design. The name of our series, Vox Botanica, translates to “voice of plants” and reflects our appreciation for Seder’s ability to spotlight often-overlooked natural subjects such as wild berries and thistles. We are delighted to introduce Viennese Fruit to this collection, joining Wild Thistle, which debuted in 2023 as a softcover journal.
Viennese Fruit is available as a hardcover journal, bookmark, jigsaw puzzle, and pencil.
