Gustav Klimt and transforming Vienna. By the end of the 19th century Vienna was changing. It was indeed experiencing a new ‘golden age’. Architects, musicians, artists, scientists are transforming their fields with innovative ideas and innovations. Architects Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos were challenging imperial design. Gustav Mahler was changing musical preferences of the city. Sigmund Freud was about to change forever the understanding of the mind and how psychology functioned. Vienna was home for both academic art on the one hand and radical artists such as Gustav Klimt on the other. Klimt was shocking the audience with his works which were openly speaking about sexual themes.
Gustav Klimt and Transforming Vienna
Gustav Klimt became famous without any personal cult. We know very little about his personal life except that he never married and fathered 14 children from different women. He lived with his mother all his life and was afraid of mental illnesses. Klimt is an amazing case study for Sigmund Freud and like Freud Klimt put sexuality at the forefront of his works. Gustav Klimt didn’t attend to a fine art school. He rather got his education in arts and crafts school. He got more practical education with lots of techniques and practice.
Breaking Point
At the age of 20 Klimt and his younger brother were creating allegorical murals for public buildings of transforming Vienna. The paintings were conservative according to 19th century traditions. But in the background of the murals we could see the roots of his later radical works. After his brother’s and father’s sudden death Klimt started shaping more sexual and disturbing signature style.
He got an order to decorate university of Vienna but the paintings were so sexually provocative that it caused a huge scandal in Vienna and his works were rejected.
Klimt formed a radical new society called the Vienna Secession with other young artists. Their aim was to to bring together art, architecture, craft and design. Modern art started forming in Austria.
In our next blogpost we are going to tell you about one of his most famous paintings ‘The Kiss’. Stay tuned and follow us to know more.
Klimt has a great impact on our works and we created our Swivel Collection being inspired by him. And if you’re looking for a gift then don’t forget that we have a range of fab items in our online shop.