Gustav Klimt
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Featured:  Illustration: Portrait fantaisiste du marquis de Sade (1866) by H. Biberstein |
Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918) was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Art Nouveau (Vienna Secession) movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches and other art objects, many of which are on display in the Vienna Secession gallery. Klimt's primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism--nowhere is this more apparent than in his numerous pencil drawings (see Frau bei der Selbstbefriedigung). These female subjects, whether formal portraits or indolent nudes, invariably display a highly sensitized fin de siècle elegance.
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Style & recurring themes
Klimt's work is distinguished by the elegant gold or coloured decoration, often of a phallic shape that conceals the more erotic positions of the drawings upon which many of his paintings are based. This can be seen in Judith I (1901), and in The Kiss (1907–1908), and especially in Danaë (1907). One of the most common themes Klimt utilized was that of the dominant woman, the femme fatale. Art historians note an eclectic range of influences contributing to Klimt's distinct style, including Egyptian, Minoan, Classical Greek, and Byzantine inspirations. Klimt was also inspired by the engravings of Albrecht Dürer, late medieval European painting, and Japanese Rimpa school. His mature works are characterized by a rejection of earlier naturalistic styles, and make use of symbols or symbolic elements to convey psychological ideas and emphasize the "freedom" of art from traditional culture.
Legacy
- Klimt's work had a strong influence on the paintings of Egon Schiele, whom he would collaborate with to found the Kunsthalle (Hall of Art) in 1917, to try and keep local artists from going abroad.
- Raúl Ruiz directed a biopic, Klimt, starring John Malkovich in the title role. The movie made its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam on in 2006.
- Klimt's work has spawned many reinterpretations, including the works of Slovak artist Rudolf Fila.
- The anime series Elfen Lied features both openings and endings referring to Gustav Klimt's works.
- Couturier John Galliano found inspiration for the Christian Dior Spring-Summer 2008 haute couture collection in Klimt's work.
Selected works
- University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings
- Palais Stoclet mosaic in Brussels
- Fable (1883)
- Idylle (1884)
- The Theatre in Taormina (1886–1888)
- Auditorium in the Old Burgtheater, Vienna (1888)
- Portrait of Joseph Pembauer, the Pianist and Piano Teacher (1890)
- Ancient Greece II (Girl from Tanagra) (1890–1891)
- Portrait of a Lady (Frau Heymann?) (1894)
- Music I (1895)
- Love (1895)
- Sculpture (1896)
- Tragedy (1897)
- Music II (1898)
- Pallas Athene (1898)
- Flowing water (1898)
- Portrait of Sonja Knips (1898)
- Fish Blood (1898)
- Schubert at the Piano (destroyed)(1899)
- After the Rain (Garden with Chickens in St Agatha) (1899)
- Nymphs (Silver Fish) (1899)
- Mermaids (1899)
- Philosophy (1899–1907)
- Nuda Veritas (1899)
- Portrait of Serena Lederer (1899)
- Medicine (Hygieia) (1900–1907)
- Music (Lithograph) (1901)
- Judith I (1901)
- Buchenwald (Birkenwald) (1901)
- Gold Fish (To my critics) (1901–1902)
- Portrait of Gertha Felsovanyi (1902)
- Portrait of Emilie Flöge (1902)
- Beech Forest (1902)
- Beech Forest I (1902)
- Beethoven Frieze (1902)
- Beech woods (1903)
- Hope (1903)
- Pear Tree (1903)
- Life is a struggle(1903)
- Jurisprudence (1903–1907)
- Water Serpents I (1904–1907)
- Water Serpents II (1904–1907)
- The Three Ages of Woman (1905)
- Portrait of Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein (1905)
- Farm Garden (Flower Garden) (1905–1906)
- Farm Garden with Sunflowers (1905–1906)
- The Stoclet Frieze (1905–1909)
- Portrait of Fritsa Reidler (1906)
- Sunflower (1906–1907)
- Hope II (1907–1908)
- Danaë (1907)
- Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907)
- Poppy Field (1907)
- Schloss Kammer on the Attersee I (1908)
- The Kiss (1907–1908)
- Lady with Hat and Feather Boa (1909)
- The Tree of Life (1909)
- Judith II (Salomé) (1909)
- Black Feather Hat (Lady with Feather Hat) (1910)
- Schloss Kammer on the Attersee III (1910)
- The Park (1910)
- Death and Life (1911)
- Farm Garden with Crucifix (destroyed)(1911–1912)
- Apple Tree (1912)
- Forester's House, WeissenbachTemplate:Dn on Lake Attersee (1912)
- Portrait of Mada Primavesi (1912)
- Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912)
- The Virgins (Die Jungfrau) (1913)
- Semi-nude seated, reclining (1913)
- Semi-nude seated, with closed eyes (1913)
- Portrait of Eugenia Primavesi (1913–1914)
- Lovers, drawn from the right (1914)
- Portrait of Elisabeth Bachofen-Echt (1914)
- Semi-nude lying, drawn from the right (1914–1915)
- Portrait of Friederike Maria Beer (1916)
- Houses in Unterach on the Attersee (1916)
- Death and Life (1916)
- Garden Path with Chickens (destroyed)(1916)
- The Girl-Friends (destroyed)(1916–1917)
- Woman seated with thighs apart, drawing (1916–1917)
- The Dancer (1916–1918)
- Leda (destroyed) (1917)
- Portrait of a Lady, en face (1917–1918)
- The Bride (unfinished) (1917–1918)
- Adam and Eve (unfinished) (1917–1918)
- Portrait of Johanna Staude (unfinished) (1917–1918)
References
- " The most important element of his fame is his reputation as a master of eroticism". Fleidel, Gottfried: "Gustav Klimt 1862-1918 The World in Female Form.", p. 14. Benedikt Taschen, 1994.
