Gustav Klimt was one of the most influential artists of the early 20th century and a leading figure of the Vienna Secession. Born in Baumgarten, Vienna, Klimt trained at the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Applied Arts), where his early work focused on academic historicism. By the late 1890s he had broken away from traditional academic painting, becoming a driving force in the movement that sought to redefine modern art in Austria.
Klimt is best known for his luminous, highly decorative style, combining gold leaf, intricate patterning and flattened, symbolic compositions. His celebrated “Golden Phase” produced some of the most iconic artworks in Western art history, including The Kiss, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, and Judith and the Head of Holofernes. These works blend influences from Byzantine mosaics, Japanese prints, Symbolism and the Arts and Crafts movement, while exploring themes of beauty, sensuality, mythology and the relationship between art and desire.
Alongside his paintings, Klimt created an extensive body of drawings and decorative works, contributing to architecture, interior design and the Secession’s groundbreaking exhibitions. His experimental approach combining fine art, design, and applied arts placed him at the centre of Vienna’s cultural renaissance.
Klimt’s artistic circle included Egon Schiele and Koloman Moser, and his influence extends through the development of Austrian Expressionism and European modernism. Despite controversy during his lifetime, Klimt’s work is now internationally recognised, with his portraits and landscapes achieving record prices at auction and remaining highly sought after by museums and collectors.
