Anton Hanak (1875-1934): Anton Hanak (Der brennende Mensch - The burning man) ,1923. Lithograph on wove paper, 63.4 x 47.4 cm. Original poster for the exhibition ‘Anton Hanak’ at the Theseus Temple in Vienna, 21 April - 13 May 1923, organised by the Gesellschaft zur Förderung Moderner Kunst (Society for the Promotion of Modern Art).
The metaphor of the ‘burning man’ was developed by the Austrian expressionist sculptor and graphic artist Anton Hanak - in his diaries, some of which were published in 1923. Hanak used it to describe the young artist in search of his own artistic fulfilment and the associated hardships, aberrations and temptations: ‘Therefore do not hesitate and remain steadfast, do not defy and lose your way... A demon whispers of wealth, of house and farm, of food and drink, of warmth and love. Without being ready, you are raped in your feelings and thoughts, you are conquered... You can ... strive towards earthly happiness, it beckons so loudly and promisingly ... In its opulence many a god has been lost... The bridges are wide that lead to life, the mind wanders and cannot find its way back. The soles are burning, the head is burning, the hands are burning. The whole man is burning.’ Hanak has captured the ‘burning man’ both as a sculpture and in numerous drawings.
