Gustav Klimt, fine art prints and paintings by ART-PRINTS-ON-DEMAND.COM

Why is Gustav Klimt important to Art Nouveau?

Gustav Klimt holds a seminal position in the Art Nouveau movement primarily through his groundbreaking paintings that diverged from academic tradition and embraced a unique blend of figurative and ornamental elements. Born in 1862 in Baumgarten, near Vienna, Klimt's formative years in art were shaped by traditional academic training. However, by the time he displayed his work at the Burgtheater in 1886, it was clear that his artistic vision was evolving away from that of his peers and colleagues, including his brother Ernst Klimt and Franz Matsch.

The true turning point for Klimt—and arguably for Art Nouveau as well—was his co-founding of the "Wiener Secession" (Vienna Secession) in 1897, along with Joseph Maria Olbrich and Josef Hoffmann. As the leader of this group, Klimt mounted exhibitions that challenged the boundaries of traditional art. However, his divergence from even this forward-thinking collective in 1905 highlighted the uniqueness of his artistic perspective, as captured vividly in his paintings.

Paintings by Gustav Klimt are often described as the "golden age" of Art Nouveau due to their innovative mix of decorative patterns, vivid colors, and sensual themes. His extensive use of gold leaf and solid colors imparted a sensuous and striking effect, defying the conventional norms of his time. This can be best observed in masterpieces like "The Kiss," where human figures are subsumed into ornamental landscapes, forming a harmonious blend that was revolutionary for its time.

Klimt's influence was not limited to his native Austria; his work and leadership in groups like the Austrian Federation of Artists, which he founded in 1906, made ripples in the international art community. His travel to cities like Brussels, London, and Florence further exposed him to a broader cultural milieu, enriching his own oeuvre and making him a vital conduit for the spread of Art Nouveau aesthetics.

Towards the end of his life, Klimt ventured further into bold artistic territories, presenting his first erotic drawings in 1907. He passed away in 1918, but his legacy endures in the intricate, emotive, and visually arresting paintings that forever marked him as a cornerstone of the Art Nouveau movement. Therefore, Gustav Klimt's importance to Art Nouveau lies in his fearless innovation, the boundary-pushing sensuality of his work, and his mastery in combining figurative and ornamental elements to create a unique visual language.

Biography of Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt was born on July 14, 1862, in Baumgarten near Vienna, the son of an engraver. In 1876, he joined the painting class of Prof. Julius Viktor Berger at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. He completed this training in 1883 and founded the Künstlercompagnie in the same year, which consisted of him, his brother Ernst Klimt, and Franz Matsch. The artist community carried out decorative tasks at the Vienna Burgtheater in 1886.

In 1888, Klimt was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit. In the same year, he traveled to Krakow, Trieste, Venice, and Munich. A few years after the death of his father and brother in 1892, Klimt founded the Vienna Secession together with Joseph Maria Olbrich and Josef Hoffmann in 1897, becoming its leader, with its first exhibition taking place a year later. However, in 1905, the Klimt Group left the Secession. A year later, he founded the Austrian Artists' Association, of which he was to become president in 1912, and traveled to Brussels, London, and Florence. In 1907, his first erotic drawings were published. His golden period then ended in 1909. Gustav Klimt died on February 6, 1918, in Vienna.

Even at the turn of the century, his works were the centerpiece of Viennese art. He combined the directions of international Art Nouveau and created a synthesis of figures and ornaments, painted in a flat style, which gives the viewer a particularly sensual and splendid impression.

His most famous works, including "The Kiss," "Adele Bloch-Bauer I," and "The Golden Adele," reflect his characteristic use of gold, decorative patterns, and symbolic imagery. Especially his golden period, inspired by Byzantine mosaics, produced some of his most famous paintings, which are still considered masterpieces of Art Nouveau today. Klimt's art was both admired and controversially discussed by his contemporaries, particularly because of the liberal depictions of female sensuality.

In addition to his paintings, Klimt left behind an impressive collection of drawings that document his creative development and innovative style. His influence on subsequent generations of artists, especially in the field of modern art and symbolism, is still palpable today. Many of his works are found in major museums and private collections around the world, continuing to inspire art enthusiasts and collectors alike.

All images by Gustav Klimt

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The Kiss from Gustav Klimt

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The Kiss (detail) from Gustav Klimt

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Lady with a fan from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait of Adele Bloch-Ba... from Gustav Klimt

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The tree of Life, The Arborvitae - middle section (detail)

The tree of Life, The Arbo... from Gustav Klimt

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The Three Ages of Woman (D... from Gustav Klimt

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Garden with Sunflowers from Gustav Klimt

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The Virgin from Gustav Klimt

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Flower garden from Gustav Klimt

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Apple tree 1 from Gustav Klimt

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Water Snakes II from Gustav Klimt

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Malcesine am Gardasee from Gustav Klimt

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Beech Forest from Gustav Klimt

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The fulfilment from Gustav Klimt

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The tree of Life from Gustav Klimt

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Danae I from Gustav Klimt

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Music from Gustav Klimt

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Judith with the head of th... from Gustav Klimt

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Hygieia (detail from the m... from Gustav Klimt

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Water-snakes l from Gustav Klimt

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The expectation from Gustav Klimt

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Poppy Meadow from Gustav Klimt

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Lady with hat and boa from Gustav Klimt

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Die drei Lebensalter (Deta... from Gustav Klimt

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Kirche in Cassone from Gustav Klimt

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Women Friends from Gustav Klimt

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Beethoven Fries from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait of a young woman from Gustav Klimt

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The Kiss, 1907-08 (detail ... from Gustav Klimt

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The Three Ages of Woman from Gustav Klimt

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Birch woods in autumn. from Gustav Klimt

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Judith from Gustav Klimt

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The Stoclet Fries (detail) from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer l (Detail)

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Ba... from Gustav Klimt

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Italian Garden Landscape from Gustav Klimt

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Le dancer from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait of Emilie Floege from Gustav Klimt

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Garden way with chickens from Gustav Klimt

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Church in Unterach at the ... from Gustav Klimt

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Death and life completed from Gustav Klimt

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Island in the Attersee from Gustav Klimt

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Woman head from Gustav Klimt

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Goldfish from Gustav Klimt

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Avenue in Schloss Kammer P... from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait Mäda Primavesi from Gustav Klimt

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Woman portrait from Gustav Klimt

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Love from Gustav Klimt

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Parc from Gustav Klimt

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Pallas Athena from Gustav Klimt

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Forest of pine trees from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait Adele BlochBauer ... from Gustav Klimt

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On the lake Attersee from Gustav Klimt

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Houses in Unterach at the ... from Gustav Klimt

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Drawing for the Allegory ... from Gustav Klimt

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The sunflower from Gustav Klimt

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Reclining Nude Lying on Her Stomach and Facing Right

Reclining Nude Lying on He... from Gustav Klimt

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Forsthaus in Weissenbach A... from Gustav Klimt

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Hope II from Gustav Klimt

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Beethoven frieze: The desire for the luck

Beethoven frieze: The desi... from Gustav Klimt

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Idylle from Gustav Klimt

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After the rain from Gustav Klimt

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Kiss to the Whole World!, Detail of the Beethoven Frieze

Kiss to the Whole World!, ... from Gustav Klimt

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Adam and Eva from Gustav Klimt

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The bride (form) unfinishe... from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait Helene Klimt from Gustav Klimt

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Goldfish - Detail from Gustav Klimt

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The Golden Knight from Gustav Klimt

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Schloss Kammer on the Atte... from Gustav Klimt

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Unterach at the Attersee from Gustav Klimt

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Master drawing for the all... from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait Friderike Maria B... from Gustav Klimt

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Die feindlichen Gewalten und nagender Kummer

Die feindlichen Gewalten u... from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait of Serena Lederer from Gustav Klimt

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Gustav Klimt / Salome / 19... from Gustav Klimt

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Beethovenfries, "Die feindlichen Gewalten"

Beethovenfries, "Die feind... from Gustav Klimt

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Schubert at the Piano from Gustav Klimt

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Judith II from Gustav Klimt

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Portrait baroness Elisabeth BachofenEcht

Portrait baroness Elisabet... from Gustav Klimt

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Reclining Semi-Nude (Mastu... from Gustav Klimt

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Baby (Cradle) from Gustav Klimt

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