Whoever wants to know something about meas an artist which alone is significant- they should look attentively at my pictures and there seek to recognize what i am and what I want.
-Gustav Klimt
To share my selection of this icon we go back to some point last year when my mother discussed and showed me Gustav Klimt’s artwork as he is one of her favorite painters. Through remembering this I decided to select him as the icon for this magazine as it meant I would be researching a lot, and thus learning a lot about him and his wor as apart from this experience I knew little about him.. This could potentially allow me then to understand his work more as well as my mother’s fascination with it. However, wnat did fascinate me about Klimt, already, is that as I am aware of his, at that time, very controversal painting as he seemed to be quite fond of painting woman bare or in sensual situations. Many did not appreciate this at the time but I applaud him for going against the grain and finding his own style, which is something I am also in process of finding for myself. I thus take inspiration from him to disregard the norm and perhaps you would consider doing the same?
Best regards,
Charley van EerDear Reader,
I am beyond excited to share this edition of Art Dart with You. This piece circles around the life and work of Gustav Klimt. The Austrian artist is a great inspiration for many, but he holds a special place in my heart because of his dedication to his art and his beliefs. Most of his artworks were considered scandalous during his time which, to me, proves that he wasn’t afraid to go against the conventional and push the boundaries of art and 20th-century society. Even though he didn’t always lead the most honourable life, his approach to painting resulted in an exceptional legacy. We all think of Klimt when talking about gold artwork, don’t we?
I hope You will be just as thrilled to join on this journey of discovering the life of Klimt.
Warm regards,
Csenge Kele
3 - Editors’ notes
5-9 - Klimt’s Golden Phase by Charley van Eer
10-14 - The Controversies of Klimt by Csenge
Kele
Misogyny and Art in Fin-de-Siècle Vienna
Katharine Chandler
Biography.com Gustav Klimt
Artsy Nett- What you need tio know about Gustavh klimt-Alexxa Gotthardt
my modern met- The Splendid history of Gustav Klimt’s Glistening “Golden Phase”- Kelly Richman-Abdou
Kivolia- The untold stories behind Klimt’s tragic paintings- Niro Yoshitome
Google Arts & Culture- The stories behind Klimt’s faculty paintings-Belvedere
Google Arts & Culturw- Klimt’s Golden Phase- Belvedere
Artsy Nett- Byzantine art
GustavKlimt.com-death and life
GustavKlimt.com- Tree of Life
GustaveKlimt.com- Medicine
GustavKlimt.com-Philosophy
GustavKlimt.com-Jurisprudence
BBC Culture- The Mysterious muse of Gustav Klimt- Kimberly Bradely
Culture Collectiva-Gustav Klimt’s fascination with gold in 7 paintings-Isabel
Cara
Gallerease-Gustav Klimt and the Viennese secession- Pieter Paul Hensels
You might recognize these pieces of art work (page 8-9) Judith I, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, The Kiss etc..these are some of the most famous pieces of Gustav Klimt and are also some pieces of what is called the golden phase of the artists work.
After travelling to Ravenna, Italy, Klimt was inspired by seeing Byzantine art which shimmed with gilded details. From this art, he then took inspiration and uses goldleaf in his own work. This thus led to the name the golden phase and the renowned art work of it.
Klimt’s name is mainly associate with his gold paintings from his golden phase however, they are a surprisingly small group of work compared to his entire portfolio of pieces. Even though this group is so small it is what has become his unmistakably identifiable style and earned him his permanent place in art history. Apart from his trip to Italy it is speculated that he may also have taken an interest in gold during his childhood, as his father was a gold engraver. Through these experiences experts conspiculate that this influenced him to start using gold in his paintings.
This piece is often regarded as the earliest piece from Klimt’s Golden phase. This piece pictufres the goddess Athena in armor standing fiercly. The gold and patterns used are some of the first elements seen in Klimt’s later work.
Pallas Athena 1898 (source: my modern met)
In this piece, Klimt focuses on the juxtaposition of Death and Life. Death represented by the solitary dark dressed skeleton on the left, and the stream of naked bodies surrounded by colorful patterns on the right. Originally, the background was intended to be gold but for unknown reasons Klimt decided to keep it grey.
Arguably Klimt’s most famous work, it shows a couple in richly em belished robes surrounded by colorful flowers as they seemingly share a intamite moment. The background and robes are adourned with gold leaf as many of his pieces from his Golden Phase.
Stocelet Frieze /Tree of life
1905-1911
(source: Gustav-Klimt.com)
A symbolic painting as the concept of the tree of life is boldly shown in the center of the piece. Th tree of life symbolized the connection between heaven and earh and the underworld.
Judith I 1901 (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam)
This is one of Klimt’s most well known pieces embracing female erocticism. In the bible Judith beheaded a drunk Assyrian general to save her Jewish people from their downfall. Klimt also as he took inspiration from Friedrich Hebbel’s drama about her in which she actually has sexual relations with the general. He combines death and eroticism into one piece.
Adele Bloch-Bauer I 1907 (Neue gallerie, museuem for german and austrial art, NYC)
Originally a commision as a gift for Adele’s parents anniversary as Adele wrote a letter to Klimt discussing the first
Adele can be seen sitting on a throne gazing at the viewer with both vulnerability and pride, as she and the background is is adorned by glittering gold leaf.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a period of change for the capital of Austria: Vienna. Not only because of the political environment that eventually led to the outbreak of the First World War but also because of the rising demands for rights. As women fought for political, economic, and intellectual involvement, those in power fought even harder to prevent it from happening. Real political change was nowhere in sight, therefore the rebellion in the social and political sphere turned to challenging aesthetics and values in the arts. Topics like pessimism, the role of women in society and the rejection of materialism have made their way into the focus.
Klimt’s paintings heavily reflected the mood of fin-de-siecle (a French term meaning “end of the century”). For example, the pessimistic worldview combined with the hope for a new beginning is symbolised in one of his most famous paintings: ‘Death and Life’, which is one of his less controversial artworks. Death is showcased as the classic figure of the grim Reaper, and Life is symbolized by a tightly packed and colourful ensemble. The clearly separated group depicts - amongst others - multiple women. While the over-representation of women in the painting could refer to women being the source of life, it most likely stands as proof of Klimt’s preference for illustrating women.
His fondness for women didn’t go unnoticed by the public, he repeatedly got criticised for embracing themes of intimacy, desire, and sexuality. Multiple artworks have been labelled pornographic, simply because of the depiction of underdressed women. Even his celebrated painting: ‘The Kiss’ was a source of criticism because of the suggestive patterns of the clothing.
However, the main scandal of his work is linked to his three paintings: Medicine, Philosophy, and Jurisprudence. The commissioned paintings were supposed to celebrate the departments of the University of Vienna. As was typical of Klimt’s style, he painted female nudes as metaphors for philosophy, medicine, and jurisprudence, which resulted in being classified as ‘pornographic’ with ‘perverted excess’.
‘Philosophy’ shows a group of figures, a sphinx-like, as well as a female head. The painting was criticised for its mysterious, allegorical imagery, which was at odds with the academics’ perception of themselves as rational beings.
The second artwork, ‘Medicine’ includes mythological details and nude female figures. Klimt received much criticism from physicians who were offended by what they saw as his lurid, almost pornographic depiction of the human form, and for suggesting that the healing arts were unable to prevent death.
‘Jurisprudence’ illustrates an old man (representing the victim) surrounded by three female figures representing Justice, Law, and Truth, while behind them are the seemingly decapitated heads of judges. The painting suggests Klimt’s pessimistic approach: he sees the law as vengeful, focusing on crime and punishment.
Today, Gustav Klimt is widely recognized as one of the most innovative artists of the 20th century, known for his highly decorative patterns, use of gold leaf, and sensual subject matter. He was one of the leading figures of the Viennese Secession, a movement that aimed to break away from traditional styles of art and promote a more modern, avant-garde approach to art. The movement was characterized by its emphasis on individualism and artistic freedom that paved the way for a more modern, experimental approach to art and design that continues to influence artists today.
Despite the continuous criticisms he received, Klimt was awarded numerous prizes and honours, including the Antwerp Grand Prize in 1895. For his contributions to art, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria awarded Klimt the Golden Order of Merit in 1888. Also, the Universities of Munich and Vienna made him an honorary member.
The popularity of Klimt’s paintings has also had a significant impact on popular culture: it has become a symbol of beauty and romance. Not to mention, his famous motifs and patterns have been widely reproduced and imitated in fashion, home décor, advertising, and other media.
“Overall, Klimt’s legacy as an artist is one of innovation, creativity, and boundary-pushing. His work continues to inspire and captivate art lovers around the world, and his influence can be seen in the work of countless artists who have followed in his footsteps.” - writes Selena Mattei.
