Gustav Klimt (1862 - 1918) - photo 1

Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt, an Austrian Symbolist painter, was a central figure in Vienna's Secession movement, known for his paintings, murals, sketches, and objets d'art. Born on July 14, 1862, in Baumgarten near Vienna, Klimt's early life was marked by financial hardship, but he showed artistic talent at a young age. He studied at Vienna's Kunstgewerbeschule, where he received a conservative education in architectural painting that influenced his early traditional works.

Klimt's path as an artist was evolutionary and controversial. Initially a successful painter of architectural decorations, his style evolved into a more personal and controversial form, especially after public criticism of his works for the Great Hall of the University of Vienna in 1900, which were deemed pornographic. This turning point led him to abandon public commissions and begin the so-called "golden period," characterized by the use of gold leaf in his work. Some of his most famous paintings, such as The Kiss and Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, which demonstrate a combination of Byzantine influence and modern symbolism, belong to this phase.

An important aspect of Klimt's career was his participation in the Vienna Secession, an art movement he co-founded in 1897. This movement, which had no manifesto, aimed to showcase unconventional artists and to bring foreign artistic influences to Vienna. Klimt was its first president and participated in the creation of the periodical Ver Sacrum.

Despite his artistic fame, Klimt led a relatively withdrawn lifestyle, often working alone and maintaining discreet personal relationships. Nevertheless, his legacy remains strong: his works fetch high prices at auction and continue to be celebrated for their innovative style and symbolic depth.

For collectors and art experts, Klimt's work represents a fascinating exploration of the evolution of Symbolism and Art Nouveau. His unique approach to form, color, and subject matter makes his work highly valued and constantly relevant in the art world.

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Date and place of birt:14 july 1862, Vienna, Austria
Date and place of death:6 february 1918, Vienna, Austria
Nationality:Austria
Period of activity: XIX, XX century
Specialization:Artist, Graphic artist, Interior designer, Painter
Art school / group:Vienna Secession
Genre:Allegory, Nude art, Landscape painting, Portrait
Art style:Modern art, Surrealism, Symbolism

Creators Austria

Anton Kolig (1886 - 1950)
Anton Kolig
1886 - 1950
Joseph Hoffmann (1831 - 1904)
Joseph Hoffmann
1831 - 1904
Jacob van Schuppen (1670 - 1751)
Jacob van Schuppen
1670 - 1751
Hans Ranzoni I (1868 - 1956)
Hans Ranzoni I
1868 - 1956
Christian Griepenkerl (1839 - 1916)
Christian Griepenkerl
1839 - 1916
Edmund Adler (1876 - 1965)
Edmund Adler
1876 - 1965
Adolph Kaufman (1848 - 1916)
Adolph Kaufman
1848 - 1916
Gabriele Maria Deininger-Arnhard (1855 - 1945)
Gabriele Maria Deininger-Arnhard
1855 - 1945
Anna Justine Mahler (1904 - 1988)
Anna Justine Mahler
1904 - 1988
Tone Fink (1944)
Tone Fink
1944
Fritz L'Alleman (1812 - 1866)
Fritz L'Alleman
1812 - 1866
Karl Svoboda (1824 - 1870)
Karl Svoboda
1824 - 1870
Joannis Avramidis (1922 - 2016)
Joannis Avramidis
1922 - 2016
Johann Michael Greiter (1736 - 1786)
Johann Michael Greiter
1736 - 1786
Kemal Seyhan (1960)
Kemal Seyhan
1960
Dominikus Auliczek (1734 - 1804)
Dominikus Auliczek
1734 - 1804

Creators Modern art

Thomas Andreas Vos (1887 - 1948)
Thomas Andreas Vos
1887 - 1948
Oskar Laske (1874 - 1951)
Oskar Laske
1874 - 1951
Marguérite Verboeckhoven (1865 - 1949)
Marguérite Verboeckhoven
1865 - 1949
William Beckwith McInnes (1889 - 1939)
William Beckwith McInnes
1889 - 1939
Johann Robert Schürch (1895 - 1941)
Johann Robert Schürch
1895 - 1941
Walter Richard Sickert (1860 - 1942)
Walter Richard Sickert
1860 - 1942
Hsiao Chin (1935 - 2023)
Hsiao Chin
1935 - 2023
Federico Beltrán Masses (1885 - 1949)
Federico Beltrán Masses
1885 - 1949
Hans Thoma (1839 - 1924)
Hans Thoma
1839 - 1924
Ginny Casey (1981)
Ginny Casey
1981
Roberto Burle Marx (1909 - 1994)
Roberto Burle Marx
1909 - 1994
 Salustiano (1965)
Salustiano
1965
Óscar Domínguez (1906 - 1957)
Óscar Domínguez
1906 - 1957
François Pompon (1855 - 1933)
François Pompon
1855 - 1933
Eliška Bartek (1950)
Eliška Bartek
1950
Eric de Kolb (1916 - 2001)
Eric de Kolb
1916 - 2001
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