Who Was Gustav Klimt?

Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) was an Austrian painter and one of the most important representatives of Viennese Modernism. He broke with the traditions of his time and radically established a new, modern concept of art that had a lasting impact on artistic creation around 1900. His works remain unmistakable to this day: gleaming golden paintings, a completely new depiction of the human body, and fascinating female figures. 

But who was Gustav Klimt, really?

Klimt was a revolutionary of his time. His experimental exploration of color, line, light, and perspective contributed significantly to the overcoming of academic painting and the phenomenon known as “Vienna around 1900.” He was a co-founder and the first president of the Secession and the genius behind the world-famous painting “The Kiss.” Over a period of just 40 years, Klimt created a multifaceted body of work that remains unparalleled to this day. Yet his career began quite traditionally. 
 

Gustav Klimt, Beethoven Frieze, 1901

Belvedere, Vienna / Permanent loan at the Secession, Vienna

Klimt’s art was not universally met with enthusiasm though: the faculty paintings he created for the University of Vienna, in particular, sparked fierce controversy. As part of this commission, Klimt was tasked with creating representative ceiling paintings depicting the disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and jurisprudence. Contemporary critics found them too modern, too enigmatic, or too provocative. Klimt subsequently withdrew from government commissions and henceforth worked independently on his own artistic vision. 
 

What makes Gustav Klimt’s style so distinctive?

Gold, ornamentation, and shimmering color
 

What makes Klimt’s works unmistakable to this day is their unique aesthetic. He combined painting with elements of decorative arts, creating images that also resemble precious objects.

His so-called “Golden Period” is particularly famous, featuring works such as “Judith I” and the portrait “Adele Bloch-Bauer I”. During this time, Klimt integrated gold leaf, silver, and other metals directly into his paintings – a technique that deliberately broke with the rules of illusionistic painting. Inspired by Byzantine mosaics, Japanese art, and historical models, he developed a completely new visual language.

His depiction of people – especially women – was also unique. He painted skin in shimmering, almost translucent hues, while bodies are surrounded by or fused with ornamental patterns. Many of these depictions are closely connected to the women in Klimt’s circle – models, friends, and patrons who played a central role in his work.
 

Why is Gustav Klimt still  famous today?

Gustav Klimt died in Vienna in 1918, yet his works have lost none of their impact. His unmistakable style and critical spirit continue to move and inspire people to this day. His masterpiece “The Kiss” (1908/09) is known worldwide and captivates new and returning visitors every year.

The Belvedere displays Klimt’s masterpiece at the center of its permanent collection. Furthermore, the Belvedere houses the world’s largest collection of his paintings – making it a central destination for experiencing Klimt’s work. Even during his lifetime, the artist was connected to the museum and supported the founding of the Modern Gallery, from which today’s collection emerged. 

Klimt’s art brings together opposites: tradition and innovation, beauty and provocation, intimacy and publicness. It is precisely these areas of tension that make his art so relevant today.

There is still much more to learn about Gustav Klimt. Questions such as why Klimt used gold, silver, and platinum, how he reimagined the human body, and what role women played in his life and work, will be explored in greater detail in the following articles in this series.