Already in the 1920s, Emil Pirchan was involved in literature as the author of fictional works such as the novel “Der Zeugende Tod” (filmed in 1920 with Tilla Durieux) or the novella Mensalströme.
Starting in the late 1930s, in addition to his responsibilities as a set designer and professor at the Academy of the Visual Arts in Vienna, Pirchan also renewed his literary activities with a series of artist biographies and monographs such as “Fanny Elsser—Eine Wienerin tanzt um die Welt” (1940), “Harald Kreutzberg— Sein Leben und seine Tänze” (1941), “Therese Krones—Die Theatrekonigin Altwiens” (1942), “Hans Makart” (1942) and “Gustav Klimt” (1942). He also published a number of novels and numerous works about the workings and history of the theatre.
Moreover, the partial estate Emil Pirchan— Steffan/Pabst Collection contains numerous unpublished articles and manuscripts (for example, about the painter Carl Rahl, Wilhelm II, Angelica Kauffmann and Tilla Durieux). (Alexandra Steiner-Strauss)
Book jacket for his novel ’Der zeugende Tod‘ (The Siring Death), Berlin, 1918 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Wein-Wunder‘ (Wine Wonder), jacket design, Berlin, 1918 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Hans Makart — Leben, Werk und Zeit‘ (Hans Makart — Life, Work and Time), Vienna, 1942 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Maskenmachen und Schminken‘ (Masks and Make-Up), Ravensburg, 1951 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Das Teufelselixier‘ (The Elixir of the Devil), book jacket, Berlin, 1915 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
Sketch for the illustration of ’Wein-Wunder‘ (Wine Wonder), Berlin, 1918 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
Sketch for the illustration of his book entitled ’Wein-Wunder‘ (Wine Wonder), Berlin, 1918 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
First ever written biography about Gustav Klimt.
’Gustav Klimt — Ein Künstler aus Wien‘ (Gustav Klimt — An Artist from Vienna), book jacket, Vienna, 1942 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Otto Wagner – Der große Baukünstler‘ (Otto Wagner. The Great Architect), Bergland Verlag, Vienna, 1956 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Das Teufelselixier‘ (The Elixir of the Devil), sixth illustration, Berlin, 1915 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
Poster for the film drama ’Der Zeugende Tod‘ (The Siring Death) based on the novel by Emil Pirchan, 1920 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
Endpaper for the novel ’Der zeugende Tod‘ (The Siring Death), Berlin, 1918 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
‘Sonne über Salzburg‘ (Sun Over Salzburg), book jacket, Vienna, 1946 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
Design for an illustration for his legendary play ’Das Teufelselixir‘ (The Elixir of the Devil), Munich, 1914 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Wein-Wunder‘ (Wine Wonder), slipcase, Berlin, 1918 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Harald Kreutzberg‘, Vienna, 1941 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)
’Bühnenmalerei‘ (Scene Painting), Ravensburg, 1946 (Steffan/Pabst Collection)