Yaneff.com

"Franz Von Stuck was the co-founder, in 1893, of the Munich Secession, and his influence on artists of the period was extensive, not only through his work in this group, but also as a frequent contributor to the magazine 'Jugend' and as a teacher at the Munich Academy. He created several of the Secession posters, including this famous design which was used for the first Secession exhibition in 1893 and for several years thereafter. Here it announces the 1897 show. In each variation we see the classical head of Athena, set in a gold mosiac octagonal frame. Athena, Grecian goddess of wisdom, patroness of the arts and faithful helper of brave warriors, became the Secessionists' symbol" (Rennert, PAI-XXIV, 530)

Franz Von Stuck was an influential German Symbolist/Art Nouveau painter, sculptor, engraver, and architect born at Tettenweis near Griesbach in Lower Bavaria, Germany, the son of a miller. He was noted for his treatment of erotic and comic aspects of mythological themes.(Arthistoryarchive.com)

The Munich Secession was the first of the Secession movements in Europe to “secede” or break-away from the conventions of nineteenth century salon painting and salon-style exhibitions. It was quickly followed by the Berlin Secession and the Vienna Secession but it was in Munich that important steps were first taken towards radical new ways of looking at the role of art, and at the presentation of art, just before the dawn of the twentieth century. (fryemuseum.org/munich_interview)