Croatian Salon, both Institution and Provocation

Craotian salon in the new ly opened Art Pavilion built for the specific purpose, was the definitive end of the preceding period of preperation, marked by the authority of Izidor Krsnjavi, a fullfilment and result of fruitful tension accumulated during Krsnjavis times. The Salons sum of achivments was in fact impressive. The group of artists that was to introduce modern ideas presented their work. The batlle was won for affirmation of art work in public spacesand middle class everyday lifeThe Secession ideas were embraced by graphic design, printing, books and posters Only a small numbers of Croatian artists abstened. Painters and sculptors managed manged to obtain institutional support and, with their expanded range of themes and forms caused negative reception which only heightened the interest in the phenomenon. The provocative spice was part of the avant-garde strategy, used in Croatia for the very first time. The building of Art Pavilion is the result of the pragmatism of those who abandoned the osolete pathos of Croatian national revival.