GUSTAV KLIMT OIL PAINTING REPRODUCTIONS
Gustav Klimt was a painter from Austria. He is known for his innovative style, which is considered as one of the most iconic representations of symbolism in the art world. Interestingly, Klimt did not only focus on oil paintings or canvases in the traditional sense. He worked on many other projects, including murals as well as various objects of art. Klimt was interested in a wide variety of subjects, including landscapes and even other forms of art, such as Japanese traditional art, which was one of the biggest inspirations behind his work.
Early work and “pornography” critiques
However, he was primarily interested in capturing the grace and beauty of the feminine body, often featuring erotic and sensual themes in his artworks. As a student at the University of Vienna, Klimt encountered some criticism for his work due to it being likened to pornographic content. However, many have later come to understand that most of the nude subjects painted by Klimt also held political commentary and social messaging.
The Secession movement
During his formative years, Klimt was part of “Secession.” This was an artistic movement that was created in order to represent young artists that would be eager to defy the usual boundaries and create unconventional works of art. The movement allowed these artists to form a community and have a platform for their works. Angered by the criticism of his work being pornography, Klimt decided not to accept any more commissions and focused on creating purely artistic projects from here on out.
Later work
Ironically, this decision led to one of the most prolific and successful faces in the life of this artist. Klimt developed a unique style that was marked by the inclusion of gold leaves in his paintings. In addition to traditional color, this material gave his works a really unique vibe that focused on texture. This era of Klimt’s work was highly regarded and received critical acclaim from his contemporaries in the art world.
Personality and philosophy
In addition to his paintings, Klimt himself was a larger-than-life character. He was an eccentric who often wore a very long and ornamental robe, only matching it with his sandals and no undergarment whatsoever. He did not really participate in social life, and he seldom interacted with other artists in the later stages of his life, especially. Most of his time was dedicated solely to the perfection of his work and techniques. He developed a very self-conscious and deliberate way of creating pieces and labored over them for extended periods. When people enquired about Klimt’s life and ideas, he would often remark that there was really nothing special about him and that if they really wanted to know something about him, all they had to do was to look at his paintings. Klimt died in 1918 after he suffered a stroke in the aftermath of the infamous influenza pandemic the previous year.
Klimt’s work is still incredibly sought-after, and there are many reproductions, replicas, and oil painting remakes available. Some of Klimt’s most notable paintings are The Kiss, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, Danae, Death and Life, Beethoven Frieze, The Tree of Life, The Maiden, Portrait of a Lady, Medicine, Goldfish, Hope I, Hope II and Water Serpents II. |
