An Interior of a Hunter

Franz Poledne was born on April 10, 1873, in Vienna. A talented Austrian painter and illustrator, he is best remembered for his evocative watercolors and oil paintings capturing the charm and nostalgia of Vienna’s cityscapes.

Still in his teens, Poledne began his artistic career in 1888, working in the studios of the renowned stage designer Hermann Burghart. Alongside this practical experience, he studied at the drawing school of the Higher Federal Graphical Training and Research Institute, laying the foundation for his dual path as a painter and illustrator. He soon began contributing illustrations to various magazines, and from 1907 until his death, he was a regular illustrator for the Illustrierte Kronen Zeitung.

In the early 20th century, Poledne became part of a group of Viennese artists who lovingly portrayed the fading splendor of “Alt-Wien” (Old Vienna). This circle included notable figures such as Rudolf von Alt, Emil Hütter, Franz Kopallik, Richard Moser, and Erwin Pendl.

Franz Poledne passed away on January 7, 1932, in Klosterneuburg after a prolonged illness. His work, imbued with quiet charm and historical sentiment, remains celebrated today in both private and public collections, including the Wien Museum.