Gustav Klimt(1862-1918)
- Writer
Between 1876 and 1883, Gustav Klimt studied at the School of Applied Arts in Vienna. A scholarship made this training possible for him. His brother attended the same school. Between 1880 and 1883, together and with Franz Matsch, they realized commissioned works and painted ceiling and theater decorations in Vienna, Karlsbad and Reichenberg. In 1883 the three opened a studio in Vienna and, among other things, accepted commissioned work. They worked on the National Theater in Bucharest, or they designed the ceilings of the Hermes Villa of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth. In 1886 a commission at the Burgtheater in Vienna followed. Two years later, the work was completed and the artists were honored by Emperor Franz Joseph I with the Golden Cross of Merit for Art. During this time, Klimt turned to monumental painting. In 1889, Gustav Klimt undertook a trip to Europe, including stops in Trieste, Venice and Munich. Especially in the period between 1890 and 1900, the artist was in search of his individual expressiveness. He increasingly broke away from the academic style.
In 1891 he joined the "Vienna's Cooperative of Visual Artists". In doing so, he placed himself between the fronts of tradition-conscious followers and the avant-gardists. During this time he met Emilie Flöge. The connection develops into a friendship. Gustav Klimt is the father of several illegitimate children that he had with his models. In 1892 his brother died. Klimt severed his studio connection with Franz Matsch. Two years later the two were commissioned to design the ceiling decoration of the "Aula Magna" at the University of Vienna. In 1897, Klimt was one of the co-founders of the Viennese artist group "Secession". He was also its first president. The group's goals were the independence of art and artists, above all, from government regulations. The magazine "Ver Sacrum" became the movement's medium in which the "Secession" artists presented their work and their goals. In the following years, Klimmt was heavily involved in the artists' association. In the period from 1898 to 1900 there was a change in the artist's painting technique. Klimt turned to an expressionist style with a flat, ornamental character. In 1900 the work "Philosophy", one of three ceiling paintings in the University of Vienna, was awarded the gold medal.
Nevertheless, the paintings met with internal criticism from professors who judged them to be ugly and pornographic. In 1902 Klimt created the "Beethoven Frieze" for Max Klinger's "Beethoven Statue". Klimt's work provoked polemical reactions. In the same year he met the important French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who was impressed by Klimt's "Beethoven Frieze". The following year the artist went on a trip to Italy to Ravenna, Venice and Florence. The discussion between naturalists and stylists in the "Secession" led to the group's split in 1905. Klimt and other artists then left. The contrary reactions to his faculty pictures at the University of Vienna increased. As a result, Klimt withheld the works and paid back the fee. The following year, Klimt's "golden period" began. The picture entitled "Fritza Riedler" was created and marked the beginning of it. This phase culminated in the picture "The Kiss". During this time, Klimmt realized an expressive language that was linked to early Christian mosaic works and icons. The artist got his inspiration for this in Italy.
During this period, numerous portraits of women with an erotic character were created and document Klimt's devotion to the female gender. In 1907 there was first contact with the Austrian painter and draftsman Egon Schiele. The expressionist artist was significantly inspired by Klimt's work. In the years 1908 and 1909 Klimt organized the "Art Show". In 1911 the artist was awarded first prize at the International Art Exhibition in Rome for his painting "Death and Life". On the other hand, Klimt's style was often criticized. He brought his pictures into harmony with the compositions of Gustav Mahler and the psychoanalytic theses of Sigmund Freud. Together with Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and Anton Faistauer, Klimt took part in the exhibition of the "Association of Austrian Artists", which was organized by the Berlin "Secession". In 1917, Gustav Klimt became an honorary member of the academies of fine arts in Vienna and Munich.
In 1891 he joined the "Vienna's Cooperative of Visual Artists". In doing so, he placed himself between the fronts of tradition-conscious followers and the avant-gardists. During this time he met Emilie Flöge. The connection develops into a friendship. Gustav Klimt is the father of several illegitimate children that he had with his models. In 1892 his brother died. Klimt severed his studio connection with Franz Matsch. Two years later the two were commissioned to design the ceiling decoration of the "Aula Magna" at the University of Vienna. In 1897, Klimt was one of the co-founders of the Viennese artist group "Secession". He was also its first president. The group's goals were the independence of art and artists, above all, from government regulations. The magazine "Ver Sacrum" became the movement's medium in which the "Secession" artists presented their work and their goals. In the following years, Klimmt was heavily involved in the artists' association. In the period from 1898 to 1900 there was a change in the artist's painting technique. Klimt turned to an expressionist style with a flat, ornamental character. In 1900 the work "Philosophy", one of three ceiling paintings in the University of Vienna, was awarded the gold medal.
Nevertheless, the paintings met with internal criticism from professors who judged them to be ugly and pornographic. In 1902 Klimt created the "Beethoven Frieze" for Max Klinger's "Beethoven Statue". Klimt's work provoked polemical reactions. In the same year he met the important French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who was impressed by Klimt's "Beethoven Frieze". The following year the artist went on a trip to Italy to Ravenna, Venice and Florence. The discussion between naturalists and stylists in the "Secession" led to the group's split in 1905. Klimt and other artists then left. The contrary reactions to his faculty pictures at the University of Vienna increased. As a result, Klimt withheld the works and paid back the fee. The following year, Klimt's "golden period" began. The picture entitled "Fritza Riedler" was created and marked the beginning of it. This phase culminated in the picture "The Kiss". During this time, Klimmt realized an expressive language that was linked to early Christian mosaic works and icons. The artist got his inspiration for this in Italy.
During this period, numerous portraits of women with an erotic character were created and document Klimt's devotion to the female gender. In 1907 there was first contact with the Austrian painter and draftsman Egon Schiele. The expressionist artist was significantly inspired by Klimt's work. In the years 1908 and 1909 Klimt organized the "Art Show". In 1911 the artist was awarded first prize at the International Art Exhibition in Rome for his painting "Death and Life". On the other hand, Klimt's style was often criticized. He brought his pictures into harmony with the compositions of Gustav Mahler and the psychoanalytic theses of Sigmund Freud. Together with Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and Anton Faistauer, Klimt took part in the exhibition of the "Association of Austrian Artists", which was organized by the Berlin "Secession". In 1917, Gustav Klimt became an honorary member of the academies of fine arts in Vienna and Munich.
