ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt was a prominent symbolism painter born July 14 1862 in Baumgarten to Ernst Klimt a gold engraver, and Anna Klimt (née Finster), with Gustav being the second oldest of seven kids. His creativity brought him to create many different types of work from landscapes, figurative work and portraits. With his main muse being woman prominently featured his works were often criticized as “lewd” and pornographic.

In the late 1870s he would become and engraver with his brother and a friend starting a small business while also helping his teacher paint murals which would lead to him starting his career painting interior murals with his brother in the surrounding area.

In 1894 Klimt was commissioned by the University of Vienna to paint murals within the ceilings of the Great Hall of the university. Named “Philosophy”, “Medicine”, and “Jurisprudence” the pieces would receive an overall negative appeal with them being deemed “pornographic”.

Due to the mass outcry the finished works were never actually installed which would lead to Klimt no longer taking public commissions. The three pieces would later be burned in a fire orchestrated by German forces.

“Philosophy”

“Medicine”

“Jurisprudence”

Around 1900 to about 1909 would be considered Klimt’s “Golden Phase”. Being a much smaller collection of his body of work these paintings are probably the most recognized. With the pieces subject  matter being his normal motifs of women and/or love they are brought to another elevated level with gold flakes, paint, etc used throughout.

Klimt used various recurring models for his pieces, many with which he’d have varying levels of romantic relationships with

Although being very promiscuous in his lifetime Klimt would never marry but is speculated to have fathered 14 children throughout his life, though he remained private about his personal life and love affairs so it’s still unknown for sure. He would share a special friendship with Emily Louise Flöge a successful fashion designer who’d be by his side for 27 years.

Unfortunately as time always does, Gustav Klimt passed away due to complications of a stroke and pneumonia brought on by the influenza epidemic.

Having left an everlasting presence and inspiration amongst many other artist Klimt’s work forever lives on now being sold at many different auctions for very high prices as well as being homed in various museums