Gustav Klimt

Date of Birth: July 14, 1862

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: February 6, 1918

Biography

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. He was born on July 14, 1862, in Baumgarten, near Vienna, Austria. Klimt’s primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism. Amongst his figurative works, which include allegories and portraits, he painted landscapes. Amongst his figurative works, which include allegories and portraits, he painted landscapes. He is noted for his use of gold leaf, a characteristic that has become synonymous with his name. Klimt began his artistic career in a very traditional manner. He attended the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule), where he studied architectural painting. After completing his studies, he founded the “Company of Artists” (Künstler-Compagnie) with his brother Ernst Klimt and their friend Franz Matsch. This company received numerous commissions for public buildings and theaters, which helped Klimt gain early recognition. In 1897, Klimt became one of the founding members of the Vienna Secession, an art movement that sought to break away from the traditional academic art of the time. He served as the group’s first president and was instrumental in organizing their exhibitions. Klimt’s style evolved during this period, becoming more decorative and symbolic. His “Golden Phase,” which lasted from 1899 to 1910, produced some of his most famous works, such as “The Kiss” (1907–1908) and “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” (1907). These works are characterized by their use of gold leaf and intricate patterns, drawing inspiration from Byzantine mosaics. Klimt’s later years were marked by a series of personal tragedies, including the death of his brother Ernst and his partner Emilie Flöge. Despite these losses, he continued to produce art until his death on February 6, 1918, from a stroke and pneumonia due to the influenza epidemic.

5 Interesting Facts about Gustav Klimt

1. Gustav Klimt was one of the founding members of the Vienna Secession, a group that aimed to create a new style that was not bound by tradition.

2. His famous work, “The Kiss,” is considered one of the most iconic images in the history of art and is often interpreted as the embodiment of the Art Nouveau movement.

3. Klimt’s “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” was sold for $135 million in 2006, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold at that time.

4. He was known for his reclusive lifestyle and rarely left his studio, focusing intensely on his work.

5. Gustav Klimt never married but had numerous relationships and fathered at least 14 children.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gustav Klimt

1. “All art is erotic.”

2. “Whoever wants to know something about me as 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.”

3. “There is no self-portrait of me.”

4. “I can paint and draw. I believe this myself, and a few other people say that they believe this too.”

5. “I am not interested in myself as a subject for painting, but in others, particularly women.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While specific figures for Gustav Klimt’s net worth during his lifetime are not well-documented, his works have achieved astronomical values posthumously. For example, his painting “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” was sold for $135 million in 2006.