The 1901 exhibition of the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony showcased more than 200 works by seven artists invited to participate by its founder and patron Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, in 1899. The colony members (Joseph Maria Olbrich among them) were given complete artistic freedom to create progressive designs for the applied arts (including furniture, silverware, glassware, sculpture, jewelry, and ceramics) to be manufactured by local artisans. Olbrich, the only architect in the group, was also tasked with designing houses for the artists (except for Peter Behrens, author of the nearby print "The Kiss", who designed and built his own house) as well as many of the public structures and the main building. This edifice, framed by manicured and geometrically stylized hedges, is the focal point of the abstracted view in Olbrich’s poster.