Josef Schulz – nedoceněný racionalista

The reception of architect Josef Schulz’s personality and work was closely examined on the occasion of his monographic exhibition in 1992. The conservatism of this leading figure of Czech historicism influenced not only perceptions of him as an educator, but also his overall evaluation within Czech art history. The negative view of Schulz‘s character stemmed from his clash with the emerging modernist movement. The juxtaposition of Josef Schulz’s career with that of his contemporary, Otto Wagner, provides a unique interpretive framework for exploring the development of two distinct personalities within the architectural field. WhileWagner, even in his later years, demonstrated a capacity to embrace the emerging principles of architectural modernism, Schulz remained steadfastly committed to the ideals of historicism throughout his life. For Schulz, architectural rationalism consistently served as the foundational element of his work, underscoring his adherence to traditional forms despite the evolving modernist currents of his time.