Color And Gold: The Art Of Gustav Klimt


by Rob Mabry - Date: 2010-06-24 - Word Count: 602 Share This!

The wonder of Byzantine churches with the eye-catching gold mosaic domes in addition to gorgeous art spread through the Mediterranean area, particularly in Sicily, with Cathedrals such as Monreale and Italy, with St Marks in Venice. The jeweled colorings of silk (whose processing was kept as a state secret inside the Empire) along with gold and enamels created explosively colorful murals. The Byzantines seemed to be aware of their particular impact on visitors and seemed to purposely flaunted it, possibly in the process inducing the jealousy which in turn brought on the fourth crusade along with the Empire's inevitable end.

Nowhere can the colorful gold effect of the Byzantine world be observed more clearly than with the artwork of famous artist Gustav Klimt, but his subject material was very different from his source of inspiration.

Where Byzantine artwork has two dimensional portraiture frequently of mythical along with religious displays, the artwork of Klimt can be described as erotic and nearly totally made from female form. The Byzantine influence is viewed in the application of mosaic patterns and ornament, jewel-like hues and the use of gold. Klimt's brother and father were both gold engravers, and that is likely the reason for the use of gold in a great number of his art works. Even though Klimt did not travel a lot, he routinely went to both Ravenna and Venice therefore seems in all likelihood that this is when he ended up being inspired by Byzantine art.

Klimt started work being an muralist who worked with his brother as well as a friend to color indoor murals and ceilings. He received a medal honoring his work in 1888, but his design and style transformed after the passing away of his brother and father. For ten years from 1897 Klimt was a member (and at some point president) of the Wiener Sezession a group of artists who protested traditional art theory and hence seceded from the Association of Austrian Artists. Their purpose would be to present displays for unusual artists and bring in the very best of international art work to Vienna. They didn't prefer any kind of distinct style and obtained government support such as a lease on some public land at which they could construct an convention hall.

Klimt's own creations would not fare well in the beginning. Some of the paintings he had been commissioned to generate were turned down and considered to be 'pornographic'. His later work was far better accepted, particularly those of his 'gold' period when he incorporated a lot of gold leaf. In 1911 Klimt won first prize in the world exhibitions in Rome, however he left very little behind aside from his fine art. His life wasn't brimming with scandal, he made no self portraits and kept no notes and no diary. He passed away in 1918 leaving behind several works incomplete.

Three of Klimt's works acquired some of the highest prices ever paid for art work with the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I selling for $135 million in 2006. At the time it was the highest price previously paid for a piece of art, though it's today been surpassed by the $137 paid for Willem de Kooning's Woman III and the $140 million paid for Jackson Pollocks No 5, 1948.

Few of us have the funds to enjoy unique fine art, or even the proper living space in which to hang a good Klimt reproduction, however a number of Klimt's more prominent works can now be savored as statues, and therefore they make engaging ornamental creations and valuable gifts for art fans or anyone who might enjoy a an art-inspired museum gift.

Related Tags: art, gustav klimt, klimt, sezession, austrian art

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