Together with Georg Pölzl, CEO of Austrian Post, and Moritz Stipsitz, Commercial Director of the Leopold Museum, I had the pleasure of presenting the new stamp issued by Austrian Post. It depicts the Viennese actress Tilla Durieux (1880 - 1971), to whom an exhibition at the Leopold Museum is dedicated until February 27. Durieux, born as Ottilie Godeffroy is one of the most interesting actresses of the early 20th century and can definitely be called a role model of the modern woman. She was portrayed by the most important artists and is considered one of the most portrayed artists of her time. A portrait made by Auguste Renoir of Durieux in 1914 is also on loan from the Metropolitan Museum and can be seen in the exhibition "A Life in Pictures" at the Leopold Museum. Also on display is the portrait that the Viennese painter Max Oppenheimer made of Tilla Durieux in 1912. This portrait has now been chosen as the model for a postage stamp. Max Oppenheimer (1885-1954), called Mopp, was educated at the Art Academy in Vienna and Berlin and belonged to the circle of expressionist painters. He portrayed many composers and also orchestras. Oppenheimer had to flee his hometown of Vienna before the National Socialists and died in New York in 1954. The Leopold Museum will be showing an exhibition of the work of this special artist starting in the fall.
