In Vienna, seeing a friendly face on the way to work in the morning, or even in a restaurant or museum is something of a rarity. The Austrian capital is famously cast in a pair of mutually exclusive roles: as one of the most livable and – at the same time – one the most unfriendly cities in the world!

This grouchy image stems from a phenomenon known here as “Wiener Grant” – a uniquely Viennese kind of grumpiness that is born of a blend of humor and irony. Omnipresent in the city, it is deeply rooted in the culture.

But what is that makes the Viennese so grumpy, anyway? The city’s numerous museums, are full of paintings, busts and statues that have grumpiness etched in their faces. So it’s hardly surprising that people end up being so grumpy themselves. Could it really be down to the art that has surrounded them from an early age?

We’ll be putting our theory to the test to mark World Smile Day, when we are inviting art fans to enjoy a humorous take on the works of Schiele, Klimt and a host of other artists at the city’s top museums.