Step into the bohemian charm, literary wit, and avant-garde aesthetic of early 20th-century Vienna with this striking vintage art poster. Originally created in 1911 by the celebrated Austro-Hungarian graphic artist Moriz Jung for the famous Wiener Werkstätte (Viennese Workshops), this iconic expressionist print is titled Wiener Café: Der Litterat (Viennese Café: The Man of Letters).

Capturing a whimsical and highly expressive slice of European café society, the illustration depicts a rumpled, deep-in-thought intellectual or writer reclining along a café banquette. Beside him sits a classic round marble table complete with a vintage inkwell and feather quill. Rendered in a rich historical palette of espresso brown, warm ochre, and deep charcoal, contrasted beautifully by a vibrant, multi-colored Secessionist floral fabric pattern, this meticulously restored print infuses modern spaces with a sophisticated, intellectual, and wonderfully eclectic graphic impact.

The History:

First published in Vienna in 1911, this artwork belongs to a celebrated series of numbered postcards designed by Moriz Jung (1885–1915) that documented the colorful characters and vibrant scenes of Viennese café culture. During this golden pre-war era, the traditional Vienna coffeehouse was a foundational cultural institution—a bustling second home where the city’s intelligentsia, poets, journalists, and artists spent hours reading, writing, and engaging in passionate debate. Jung created this piece under the banner of the Wiener Werkstätte, an influential cooperative of visual artists and architects co-founded by Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser. Dedicated to the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk (the total work of art), the Werkstätte sought to bring high-quality artistic design to everyday objects, from coffee cups and textiles to graphic prints. Tragically, Jung’s brilliant career was cut short when he was killed in battle during World War I at the age of 29, but his expressive caricatures remain timeless symbols of Vienna’s pre-war bohemian heyday.

The Aesthetic:

A masterclass in early expressionist caricature and Art Nouveau spatial design, this composition beautifully balances bold, woodcut-style linework with dense, intricate patterning. The central figure—the weary “Man of Letters”—is rendered with long, angular features, a rumpled grey suit, a loose purple bowtie, and delightfully mismatched striped socks, perfectly embodying the romance of the eccentric writer. Behind him, the café’s long banquette cushion explodes with a highly detailed tapestry of stylized flowers and geometric patterns, showcasing the signature style of the Wiener Werkstätte’s famous textile department. Framed by a clean border and the original German title banner (“WIENER CAFE: DER LITTERAT.”) along the bottom margin, this poster transforms historic graphic art into a bold, high-contrast, and personality-filled display piece.

It is an ideal statement piece for:

Writers, poets, journalists, literature professors, coffee aficionados, and collectors of rare early 20th-century European graphic design, Art Nouveau illustration, and Vienna Secession art.
Home libraries, cozy reading nooks, executive home offices, texturally rich living rooms, modern coffee shops, or as a character-rich anchor within a maximalist gallery wall.
Dark academia, eclectic bohemian, mid-century modern, maximalist, or transitional interior design styles that value narrative art, bold illustration, and European history.

Product Details

Artist: Moriz Jung (Wiener Werkstätte)
Title: Wiener Café: Der Litterat / Viennese Café: The Man of Letters
Subject: Antique European Café Culture and Bohemian Intellectual Portrait
Original Year: 1911
Style: Vienna Secession / Early Expressionism / Wiener Werkstätte Graphic Design

Museum-Quality Vintage Prints

Our vintage posters are made to order using premium Giclée printing techniques. Every piece is printed on thick, heavyweight fine art paper (200gsm) with a smooth, completely matte finish.

We specifically source an acid-free, natural-toned paper that perfectly recreates the warmth and authentic character of original mid-century lithographs. Unlike standard glossy posters, our premium matte finish ensures there is zero glare when your artwork is framed behind glass, resulting in a rich, museum-quality display. Combined with long-lasting, UV-resistant pigment inks, your print is designed to remain vibrant for generations.