Franz Sedlacek

Franz Sedlacek (1891–1945) was an Austrian painter associated with the "New Objectivity" artistic movement. Born in Breslau on January 21, 1891, he moved to Linz as a child and later studied architecture and chemistry in Vienna after completing high school. He served in World War I before working at the Technical Museum of Vienna starting in 1921.

Sedlacek joined the Wehrmacht in 1939 and fought in Russia, Norway, and Poland. He went missing during the Battle for Toruń Fortress near Toruń, Poland, on February 1, 1945, and was declared dead in 1972.

As an artist, Sedlacek began his career as a graphic artist before turning to oil painting. In 1913, he co-founded an artistic association in Linz with Anton Lutz, Klemens Brosch, and Heinz Bitzan. His work gained recognition, including inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art's exhibition in New York in 1930. He received the Austrian State Prize for painting three times (1933, 1935, and 1937) and was part of the Viennese Secession, an association founded by Gustav Klimt.

Sedlacek's works are displayed in notable museums such as the Leopold Museum, Albertina Museum, and Belvedere Museum in Vienna. Notable pieces include "Lied in der Dämmerung" (1931) and "Sturm" (1932).