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Gustav Klimt: paintings, creativity, biography. What distinguishes the paintings of Gustav Klimt?
One of the most famous painters of the past is Gustav Klimt, whose paintings are in great demand today. Unfortunately, his works are not so many, and all of them have long found their place in the best collections of the world. But when a miracle happens, and his paintings are exhibited at auctions, the cost is fabulous.
Biography of Gustav Klimt: the beginning of the beginning
A man whose name is familiar to every intellectual today was born near the Austrian capital, in the town of Baumgarten. Gustav, who was born on July 14, 1862, was the second child. His father was an engraver and jeweler, so all his numerous children were given first lessons of skill. The family lived poorly, but at the age of fourteen young talent entered the art and craft school. There Gustav Klimt, whose paintings amaze everyone without exception, studied with such luminaries as Ferdinand Laufberger and Julius Victor Berger. A few years later, the younger brother of the artist, Ernst, entered the same institution. Together they wrote portraits of notable townspeople on photographs and sold six guilders each. This was their first independent earnings.
The first steps in art
In 1879 the artist Gustav Klimt, his brother and Franz von Mack decorate the courtyard of the Vienna Museum of Art History, after which they receive their first serious order. With the painting of the ceilings of the palace Stureny ("Four allegories") and the bath in Carlsbad, a special style emerges that will distinguish the paintings of Gustav Klimt from the works of other painters. Therefore, the trio of artists ceases to work together, and they go each in their own journey through life.
Search for your own style
The artist Klimt almost immediately received recognition from the demanding audience. From the hands of Emperor Franz Joseph, he receives the Golden Cross for his services in art after completing his work at Burgtheater. Therefore, the master is sent on a journey through the Old World, during which he visits Munich and Venice. This trip gave him a lot of impressions and inspiration for further work.
Recognition in life
Work on the interiors of the rooms, in particular the execution of allegorical images, the three faculties "Philosophy", "Jurisprudence" and "Medicine" pushed the artist to paint canvases. He founded the "Secession" in Vienna and becomes its president, writes his first landscapes, is fond of expressionism. Gustav Klimt's paintings of that period are distinguished by a love for mosaic, an ornamental depiction of forms. This is a distinctive feature of the master's works in the future.
Gustav Klimt, whose paintings were awarded a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris (canvas "Philosophy"), creates Beethoven murals. This work, performed in 1902, was vividly discussed by the public, Rodin admired her. The master goes on a trip to Italy, becomes in demand, listen to him. In 1908, the artist organized his own exhibition, where he presented sixteen paintings. Two of them were immediately acquired by authoritative institutions - the Gallery of Modern Art in Rome and the Austrian State Gallery.
In Paris, which Klimt visited in 1909, he gets acquainted with the works of Toulouse Lautrec, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Munch, Bonnart. A year later takes part in the ninth in the Venetian Biennial, writes the film "Death and Life", which was highly appreciated at the world exhibition in 1911 in Rome. After it, the artist again goes on a trip to Europe.
The last years of the life of the great painter
Despite the love of the public, Gustav Klimt's works were criticized by Expressionists. After the death of his mother in 1915, the artist increasingly chooses the dark colors of the palette. He continues to participate in the most prestigious exhibitions of the world, becomes an honorary member of the Academy of Arts in Munich and Vienna, writes masterpieces. The artist dies from a heart attack on February 6, 1918, leaving a large number of unfinished works. After him, the other great painters of that time leave.
"Kiss" Gustav Klimt - the most famous painting of the artist
This work is rightfully considered one of the best among the heritage of the master. It was created in 1907 and immediately after the presentation was purchased by the Austrian-Hungarian government. Emotional, blindingly bright "Kiss" by Gustav Klimt is recognized most expressively in the history of painting of the twentieth century. What is special about it?
On the canvas there are different patterns: placer variegated colors, scattered curls, a chess motif of black, white and green rectangles, ribbon arabesques, twisting spirals. The abstraction from the fragments of naturalistically interpreted figures, quaint ornaments looks simply luxurious on a golden background. The couple, which is depicted in the center, embraced and merged in a passionate kiss. Mosaic attire of lovers only strengthens the heat of passion created by the master with the help of decorative details and their deep contrast with naturalistic elements. Very realistically written girl's face, hands and feet. But parts of the body are surrounded, and sometimes completely covered, by planes with an abstract motif, which corresponds to flowers on the ground and texture of the fabric.
Symbolism of the "Kiss"
Gustav Klimt, whose paintings always have a semantic load, and in the "Kiss" used symbolism. So, at first glance, the rectangles depicted on the men's clothing have only decorative meaning. But these are phallic symbols that embody the masculine principle. They blend together with the feminine element, ciphered in the motif on the woman's apparel. These are spirals, circles and ovals, which can be considered artistic marks of female genitalia. This union is harmonious and energetic, generates life and continues it.
The canvas "Kiss" is absolutely unusual and shocking. Like all previous works, it had its fans and fierce opponents. But all the same it is the highest point of the so-called golden period of the artist's work. The painting became the emblem of the Viennese Secession, bewitching with golden radiance, extinguished eroticism (after all, only the hands, feet and faces of the characters appeared to the open look), evident chastity.
Cherchez la femme, or Look for a woman
Gustav Klimt's favorite motif was women and their body. He liked to draw scenes from mythology, biblical characters, Olympic goddesses, nymphs and ordinary girls who became unearthly. Surrounded by golden light (many works of genius had such a chic background), they seemed to be the ideal of beauty, beautiful and seductive at the same time. As a true artist, he idolized the beautiful sex, his divine awe, sensuality, mysticism and femininity.
On his canvases he drew naked women and only then dressed their bodies in fabulous precious clothes. The mysterious flickering of precious stones, flowing hair, glow of silky skin and the finest gossamer of the dress created temptation, covering the semi-naked body.
Fatal ladies of genius
The artist of the turn of the century absorbed all the contradictory opinions of that era. He was looking for an ideal and modern woman and depicted in his paintings. He painted not only real people, like, for example, Sonya Knips, whose portrait simultaneously expresses lightness, innocence, anxiety and thoughtfulness. Each lady represented by Gustav is fatal. In the picture "Love" the heroine's face froze in sweet ecstasy, but in the background there are shadows. After all, the young man and the girl are then expected to have old age and death. A vivid example of such beauties are the following paintings: "Mermaid", "Goldfish", both versions of "Judith", "Water snakes". A deep philosophy is filled with the work "Three Ages of a Woman", which depicts a little girl, a woman in the prime of life and beauty, as well as an old woman.
It is interesting that the master was not married, although he had numerous novels. Probably, he never found his ideal ...
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