Klimt

by Sandra Forty

Gustav Klimt was raised in poverty in mid-nineteenth century Vienna but his precocious artistic talent raised him from the gutter to the heights of Austrian society. Initially a generic painter of historical scenes he soon devised his own unique style featuring semi-naked women in mystical, gold-wrapped, abstract landscapes that either completely enchanted or totally outraged his audience. His trademark heavily patterned, exotically beautiful women captured the sensuality and excitement of the time and electrified Viennese society. Klimt was the leading light of the Vienna Secession, the hugely influential artistic community, and also a leading Symbolist painter whose work places him among the artistic elite. Sadly many of Klimt’s paintings were destroyed at the end of World War II but they at least remain as photographs to show the world what has been lost.

Genres: Art

107 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2012

About the author

Sandra Forty is a graduate of London University where she studied medieval and early modern history, including a spell at the Courtald Institute learning about Renaissance art from Professor Gombrich.

Since then she has worked as a journalist in London, then as a book editor and writer.

She is the author of a number of books, most on art and architecture.

Reviews

[Bird Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook.

Perfectly fine beginners guide to Klimt.
Just a biography intro and paintings through the years.
A good look at style transformation.

[Kim Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about this artist. He lived 55 years and like so many artists, his pieces didn’t generate much income for him. They became much more valuable after his death in 1918. My favorites are The Kiss and Baby.