Ever wondered where Gustav Klimt spent twenty years of his life? Right here, at the Gustav Klimt Plaque, we honor the place where the famous painter Gustav Klimt lived.
Gustav Klimt’s name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. He was a founding member of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt resisted the conventions of the national art establishment. He became widely influential in the Jugendstil style.
Born in Baumgarten near Vienna, Gustav Klimt came from humble beginnings. His father, Ernst Klimt, was a gold engraver. Klimt’s primary subject was the female body. His works are marked by frank eroticism. This is apparent in his numerous drawings.
Klimt’s paintings snatched such critical accolades. He won the first prize at the 1911 International Exhibition of Art in Rome. The majority of Klimt’s works today are displayed at several locations throughout Vienna. The Belvedere Palace houses the most extensive collection of them, including The Kiss.
The Secession Building features another famous creation by Klimt. It is the monumental Beethoven Frieze. The Leopold Museum holds some iconic pieces by Gustav Klimt. One is Death and Life. The Kunsthistorisches Museum also showcases several Klimt paintings. The Albertina Museum boasts a rich selection of Klimt’s drawings and sketches. It provides insights into the artist’s creative process.
Many art museums own one or several paintings by the symbolist master. Klimt’s career is forever associated with his native city. Klimt graduated from the prestigious Applied Arts University. He was a member of the Künstlerhaus of Vienna. Klimt then became co-founder of the Vienna Secession movement.
Between 1905 and 1909 Klimt designed the Stoclet Frieze. His nine study sketches are on display in Vienna at the MAK. The MAK also owns the estate of the world-famous Wiener Werkstätte. It contains studies, model books, photo volumes, original fabric patterns, embroideries and the full company archive.
The Wien Museum also has an impressive Klimt collection. Particular highlights are the portrait of his muse Emilie Flöge and Pallas Athene. The museum also owns the world’s biggest collection of Klimt drawings. It calls 411 of them its own. These drawings are not on permanent display for conservation reasons.
Valuable sketches by Gustav Klimt for the ceiling paintings above the grand staircase of the Burgtheater were discovered in the attic of the theatre in the late 1990s. This rescued this priceless trove of studies. It included the artist’s only self-portrait. Today these sketches are on display in a dedicated Klimt room. It can be seen as part of a guided tour. The tour also takes in the ceiling paintings above the grand staircase.
The stairwell of the Kunsthistorisches Museum is of particular interest to Klimt fans. Here 40 spandrel paintings and other decorative works adorn the narrow sections of wall between the arches and columns. Eleven of these were completed by Gustav Klimt. The remainder were completed by his brother Ernst and Franz Matsch. The images depict the history of art and applied arts from their ancient Egyptian beginnings to the modern age.
As you stand here, remember Gustav Klimt. His legacy lives on in Vienna’s art scene. His innovative style continues to inspire art enthusiasts worldwide. Klimt’s impact on Vienna and the art world is undeniable. Take a moment to appreciate the genius of Gustav Klimt.