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Despite his artistic fame, Klimt led a relatively withdrawn lifestyle, often working alone and maintaining discreet personal relationships.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

Ferdinand Zach (1868 - 1956)
Ferdinand Zach
1868 - 1956
Ferdinand Lepié (1824 - 1883)
Ferdinand Lepié
1824 - 1883
Fritzi Löw (1892 - 1975)
Fritzi Löw
1892 - 1975
Urban Grünfelder (1967)
Urban Grünfelder
1967
Leopold Karl Muller (1834 - 1892)
Leopold Karl Muller
1834 - 1892
Joseph Hoffmann (1831 - 1904)
Joseph Hoffmann
1831 - 1904
Franciscus van der Steen (1615 - 1672)
Franciscus van der Steen
1615 - 1672
Siegmund Arvay (1838 - 1888)
Siegmund Arvay
1838 - 1888
Otto Muehl (1925 - 2013)
Otto Muehl
1925 - 2013
Henrik Weber (1818 - 1866)
Henrik Weber
1818 - 1866
Thomas Ender (1793 - 1875)
Thomas Ender
1793 - 1875
Friedrich Wailand (1821 - 1904)
Friedrich Wailand
1821 - 1904
Eduard Gurk (1801 - 1841)
Eduard Gurk
1801 - 1841
Heinrich Lefler (1863 - 1919)
Heinrich Lefler
1863 - 1919
Siegfried Anzinger (1953)
Siegfried Anzinger
1953
Suse Krawagna (1964)
Suse Krawagna
1964

Creators Modern art

Osvaldo Borsani (1911 - 1985)
Osvaldo Borsani
1911 - 1985
Eduard Daelen (1848 - 1923)
Eduard Daelen
1848 - 1923
Arshile Gorky (1904 - 1948)
Arshile Gorky
1904 - 1948
Ernst Seger (1868 - 1939)
Ernst Seger
1868 - 1939
Ivan Milev Lalev (1897 - 1927)
Ivan Milev Lalev
1897 - 1927
Clara Rühle (1885 - 1947)
Clara Rühle
1885 - 1947
Maurice Asselin (1882 - 1947)
Maurice Asselin
1882 - 1947
Theresa Bernstein (1890 - 2002)
Theresa Bernstein
1890 - 2002
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 - 1898)
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
1832 - 1898
Adam Antes (1891 - 1984)
Adam Antes
1891 - 1984
Peter Brüning (1929 - 1970)
Peter Brüning
1929 - 1970
Jules-Cyrille Cavé (1859 - 1949)
Jules-Cyrille Cavé
1859 - 1949
Fred (Frederick Hutchinson) Page (1908 - 1984)
Fred (Frederick Hutchinson) Page
1908 - 1984
Ferdinand Staeger (1880 - 1976)
Ferdinand Staeger
1880 - 1976
Leo Brunschwiler (1918 - 1977)
Leo Brunschwiler
1918 - 1977
Edgar Negret (1920 - 2012)
Edgar Negret
1920 - 2012