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Despite his artistic fame, Klimt led a relatively withdrawn lifestyle, often working alone and maintaining discreet personal relationships.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

Raimund Volanek (1857 - 1924)
Raimund Volanek
1857 - 1924
Rudolf Hausner (1914 - 1995)
Rudolf Hausner
1914 - 1995
Eduard von Steinle (1810 - 1886)
Eduard von Steinle
1810 - 1886
Paul Troger (1698 - 1762)
Paul Troger
1698 - 1762
Franz Xaver Simm (1853 - 1918)
Franz Xaver Simm
1853 - 1918
Robert Poetzelberger (1856 - 1930)
Robert Poetzelberger
1856 - 1930
Maria Lassnig (1919 - 2014)
Maria Lassnig
1919 - 2014
Soshana Afroyim (1927 - 2015)
Soshana Afroyim
1927 - 2015
Franz Xaver Reinhold (1816 - 1893)
Franz Xaver Reinhold
1816 - 1893
Jacob Adam (1748 - 1811)
Jacob Adam
1748 - 1811
Karl Ludwig Prince (1875 - 1944)
Karl Ludwig Prince
1875 - 1944
Franz Deiwel (1748 - 1810)
Franz Deiwel
1748 - 1810
Heinrich Kühn (1866 - 1944)
Heinrich Kühn
1866 - 1944
Karel Postl (1769 - 1818)
Karel Postl
1769 - 1818
Paul Unbereit (1884 - 1937)
Paul Unbereit
1884 - 1937
Martin van Meytens (1695 - 1770)
Martin van Meytens
1695 - 1770

Creators Modern art

Carl Strathmann (1866 - 1939)
Carl Strathmann
1866 - 1939
Ivan Tišov (1870 - 1928)
Ivan Tišov
1870 - 1928
Emil Maetzel (1877 - 1955)
Emil Maetzel
1877 - 1955
 Su Su (1988)
Su Su
1988
Joseph Csaky (1888 - 1971)
Joseph Csaky
1888 - 1971
Arie Smit (1916 - 2016)
Arie Smit
1916 - 2016
Fred Deux (1924 - 2015)
Fred Deux
1924 - 2015
Rafa Macarron (1981)
Rafa Macarron
1981
Voldemar Matvejs (1877 - 1916)
Voldemar Matvejs
1877 - 1916
Thomas Yeo (1935)
Thomas Yeo
1935
Paul Wunderlich (1927 - 2010)
Paul Wunderlich
1927 - 2010
Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
Vladimir Nabokov
1899 - 1977
Herbert Rolf Schlegel (1889 - 1972)
Herbert Rolf Schlegel
1889 - 1972
Tomoo Gokita (1969)
Tomoo Gokita
1969
Robert Rafailovich Falk (1886 - 1958)
Robert Rafailovich Falk
1886 - 1958
Édouard Vuillard (1868 - 1940)
Édouard Vuillard
1868 - 1940
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