Gustav Klimt

b. 1862 and died 1918.

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Art Nouveau (Vienna Secession) movement. Many of Klimt’s works are seen throughout Vienna. He was an accomplished painter, muralist and drawer. His charcoal and pencil drawings of naked and semi-naked women displayed a novel eroticism sought out by many collectors.

Klimt’s was recognized as important even during his lifetime. In 1897 he helped found the Vienna Secession movement and he remained active in that circle of painters until 1908. The group was united by a commitment to just causes, wisdom and the arts but they had no common artistic style. They sought to create an artistic community where they could promote their art. The group was given a lease on public land to construct an exhibition hall of their work. Despite being active with the Vienna Secessions, Klimt was a rather private person. He had numerous affairs and patrons but they almost all of them came to him for his attention.

Klimt continued to grow in statute during his painting career and was awarded numerous public commissions like the ceiling of the Great Hall in the University of Vienna, the Beethoven Frieze for the 14th Secessionist exhibition and numerous others.

Klimt is probably best known for his ‘Golden Phase” where he used gold leaf direcly in his paintings. The Kiss which is arguably the most recognizable painting in the world exemplifies his use of gold. However, even with the prominence of gold in his paintings he never lost his highly sexualized content. Often the gold was phallic-shaped and used to obscure the more erotic nature of the people posing.

Klimt’s artwork has enjoyed overwhelming auction success. When the 1907 portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I was restituted to its heirs it sold for $135 million to Ronald Lauder, the owner of the Neue Galerie in New York, and is the highest ever reported price for an artwork. His erotic drawings and other paintings are also highly desired at auction.