Gustav Klimt

Who is Gustav Klimt?

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter born in Baumgarten near Vienna and a leading figure of the Vienna Secession movement, which he helped found in 1897. He is best known for his richly decorative paintings, often incorporating gold leaf in what became known as his Golden Phase. His most celebrated works include The Kiss and the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, both regarded as icons of Art Nouveau and among the most recognizable paintings of the early twentieth century. Klimt's subjects frequently centered on the female form, allegory, and sensuality, blending Byzantine and mosaic influences with modern design. He also produced landscapes and large decorative commissions, including the Beethoven Frieze. His work was sometimes controversial for its eroticism. Klimt died in Vienna in early 1918 following a stroke, having deeply influenced protégés such as Egon Schiele.

Sources: Gilles Néret, Gustav Klimt, 1993 (Taschen) · Frank Whitford, Klimt, 1990 · Alfred Weidinger (ed.), Gustav Klimt, 2007