Gustav Gurschner, a sculptor, attended the School of Applied Arts in Vienna in 1888. Working under several artists, his time in Paris in 1897 proved to be most influential with regards to his stylistic development. He embraced Art Nouveau, or Jugendstil, as it was known in Austria. Part of the avant-garde movement, he participated in the inaugural exhibition of the Vienna Secession in 1898, maintaining close ties with those who later broke away to form the Weiner Werkstatte. From 1904-1908, he was a member of the Austrian group, Hagenbund. In addition to creating sculpted works including large-scale commemorative pieces and commissioned works by Emperor Franz-Josef, Gurschner created medals and was quite well known for his Art Nouveau bronze and glass lamps. Examples of his work are found in the Berg-Isel Museum in Innsbruck and the Musée Galliera in Paris.