Klimt, Gustav

(7/14/1862 Baumgarten-2/6/1918 Vienna) (Austria)

   Painter, graphic artist, decorator, and draughtsman. A major figure in the Art Nouveau style in the early 20th century art whose richly decorated and sensual imagery have become part of popular culture in the West. Co-founder of the Vienna Secession group. Eroticism was a recurrent theme in his works, especially illustrations. His illustrations to Lucian's Dialogues and even his famous "Kiss" were considered too much in his day and were condemned by the authorities in 1907, which led to problems with the police, the loss of wealthy patrons, and state support.

   Reproductions: Danae; 1907-1908; Bentley, 1984: p. 140 / Melville, 1973: fig. 66 [C] / Olley, 2005: p. 72 [C]. The embrace [detail]; c1916; pencil; Bentley, 1984: p. 143 . Embracing couple; pen and ink; Smith, 1974: p. 157 [B]. Female nude wearing lingerie; 19161917; graphite; Erotic drawings, 2004: p. 157 [C]. Friends; Melville, 1973: fig. 64 [C]. Girlfriends; 1905; black chalk; Erotic drawings, 2004: p. 115 [C]. Girlfriends embracing; 1905; graphite; Erotic drawings, 2004: p. 117 [B]. The kiss; 1907-1908: Lucie-Smith, 1972: p. 141 [C]. Liegender Halbakt nach Rechts; 1904-1907; pencil; Olley, 2005: pp. 70-71 [C]. Lovers; 1907-1908; Wallace 2007: p. 171 [C]. Lovers; 1913; Wallace 2007: p. 171 [C]. Lovers; 1914; pencil; Erotic drawings, 2004: p. 145 [B]. Myth of Danae; c1905; Webb, 1975: p. 129 [B]. Nude veritas; 1899; Bentley, 1984: p. 142 [B]. [Nude woman]; pencil; Kronhausen, 1970c: p. 37 [B]. [Nudes lying down and huddling]; 1912-1913; graphite, red, blue, and white pencil; Erotic drawings, 2004: p. 135 [C]. Offering, study of Leda; 1918; Neret, 1994: p. 592 [B]. Reclining masturbating girl; 1916-1917; Wallace 2007: p. 170 [C]. Reclining woman; 1912-1918; pencil; Tilly, 1986: 47 [C]. Right-wing lovers; 1914: Neret, 1994: p. 593 [B]. Seated nude with closed eyes; 1913; Neret, 1994: p. 590 [B]. Seated woman with open legs; 1916-1917; Wallace 2007: p. 170 [C]. Semi-nude lying; 1914; blue pencil; Erotic drawings, 2004: p. 147 [C]. Sitting semi-nude with closed eyes; 1913; pencil; Neret 1993: p. 176 [C]. Skigge und Engel-studie fur die Allegorie der Skulptur; 1890; water- color; Olley, 2005: p. 70 [C]. Two lovers; 1914; Neret, 1994: p. 593 [B]. Venus Callipyge; Hurwood, 1975: p. 193 [B]. The Virgin; 1912-1913; oil; Olley, 2005: p. 73 [C]. Woman; 1907; engraving; Tilly, 1986: p. 14 [B]. [Woman masturbating]; 1907; pencil; Kronhausen, 1970c: pp. 36, 37 [B] / Hill, 1992: p. 8 [B] / Webb, 1975: 221 [B] / Bentley, 1984: p. 143 [B]. Woman seated with open thighs; 1916; graphite and red pencil; Erotic drawings, 2004: p. 159 [C]. Woman sitting with spread thighs; 1916-1917; Neret, 1994: p. 591 [C].

   [b]Source: Benezit, vol. 7: pp. 1329-1332; Dominique Blanc, "Dans l'enfer de Klimt," Connaissance des Arts 626 (April 2005): p. 22; Alessandra Comini, Gustav Klimt, Eros und Ethos(Salzburg, 1975); Alessandra Comini, "Titles can be troublesome: misinterpretations in male art criticism," Art Criticism 1, 2 (1979): pp. 50-54; Manou Farine, "Klimt, dessins erotiques," L'Oeil 567 (March 2005): pp. 64-67; Gottfried Fliedl, "Das Weib macht keine Kunst, aber den Kunstler zur Klimt — Rezeption," in Der Garten der Luste, ed. by R. Berger and D. Ham-mer-Tugendhat (Cologne: Dumont, 1985): pp. 89-149; Michael Gibson, "L'art de Klimt: eros et ornament," L'Oeil 368 (March 1986): pp. 36-41; W Hofmann, "Ein-same Zwiegsprache," Art (Germany) 5 (1980): pp. 70-80; Hans Hofstatter, Gustav Klimt erotic drawings (New York: Abrams, 1980); Agnes Husslein-Arco and Eleonora Louis, Die sinnliche Linie: Klimt, Schmalix, Araki, Takano und der japanische Holzschnitt, Publication P, no. 1 (Weitra: Bibliothek der Provinz, 2004); Fritz Novotny and Johannes Dobai, Gustav Klimt (New York: Praeger, 1970); ThB XX 1927: p. 504.