Gustav Klimt 1862 – 1918

Klimt with his cat 1912 photo
Klimt with cat in front of his
studio in Josefstaedter Strasse
in Vienna. Photo, c.1912

Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918) was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, sketches, and other objets d'art. Klimt's primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism. In addition to his figurative works, which include allegories and portraits, he painted landscapes. Among the artists of the Vienna Secession, Klimt was the most influenced by Japanese art and its methods.
Early in his artistic career, he was a successful painter of architectural decorations in a conventional manner. As he developed a more personal style, his work was the subject of controversy that culminated when the paintings he completed around 1900 for the ceiling of the Great Hall of the University of Vienna were criticized as pornographic. He subsequently accepted no more public commissions, but achieved a new success with the paintings of his "golden phase", many of which include gold leaf. Klimt's work was an important influence on his younger contemporary Egon Schiele.
Klimt's paintings have brought some of the highest prices recorded for individual works of art. In November 2003, Klimt's Landhaus am Attersee sold for $29,128,000, but that sale was soon eclipsed by prices paid for other Klimts.
In 2006, the 1907 portrait, Adele Bloch-Bauer I, was purchased for the Neue Galerie New York by Ronald Lauder reportedly for US $135 million, surpassing Picasso's 1905 Boy With a Pipe (sold May 5, 2004 for $104 million), as the highest reported price ever paid for a painting.

Portrait of a Girl, Head Slightly Turned Left 1879 Portrait of a man with beard in three quarter profil 1879 Portrait of a man with beard 1879 Waldboden 1881 Savoyen Boy 1882 Design for a theater curtain 1883 Fable 1883 Portrait of Clara Klimt 1883 Sketch for a Theater Curtain in Reichenberg 1883
Portrait of a Girl, Head Slightly Turned Left 1879 Portrait of a man with beard in three quarter profil 1879 Portrait of a man with beard 1879 Waldboden 1881 Savoyen Boy 1882 Design for a theater curtain 1883 Fable 1883 Portrait of Clara Klimt 1883 Sketch for a Theater Curtain in Reichenberg 1883
Study of a male nude 1883 Idylle. Idylls 1884 Inside the Forest 1884 Female organ player 1885 The Globe Theatre in Londo 1886 Theater in Taormina 1886 'Thespis' wagon 1886 Altar of Dionysos 1886-1887 Head of a Reclining Man 1886-1887
Study of a male nude 1883 Idylle. Idylls 1884 Inside the Forest 1884 Female organ player 1885 The Globe Theatre in Londo 1886 Theater in Taormina 1886 'Thespis' wagon 1886 Altar of Dionysos 1886-1887 Head of a Reclining Man 1886-1887
Portrait of a Woman in a Golden Dress 1886-1887 Female Nude 1887 Portrait of a man heading left 1887 Girl in Profile 1887-1888 Composition Design for the Faculty of Medicine 1887-1888 The Old Burgtheater 1888 Study of an Old Man with Ivy Wreath 1888-1890 Allegory of Sculpture 1889 Sappho 1890
Portrait of a Woman in a Golden Dress 1886-1887 Female Nude 1887 Portrait of a man heading left 1887 Girl in Profile 1887-1888 Composition Design for the Faculty of Medicine 1887-1888 The Old Burgtheater 1888 Study of an Old Man with Ivy Wreath 1888-1890 Allegory of Sculpture 1889 Sappho 1890
Portrait of Joseph Pembauer 1890 Two Girls With An Oleander 1890 Emilie Floge, Aged 17 1891 Hanswurst on the fair stage 1892 Portrait of Emilie Floge 1892 Portrait of a lady 1894 Portrait of Marie Breunig 1894 Study of a head of a Hannakin 1894 Young Girl sitting 1894
Portrait of Joseph Pembauer 1890 Two Girls With An Oleander 1890 Emilie Floge, Aged 17 1891 Hanswurst on the fair stage 1892 Portrait of Emilie Floge 1892 Portrait of a lady 1894 Portrait of Marie Breunig 1894 Study of a head of a Hannakin 1894 Young Girl sitting 1894
Josef Lewinsky 1895 Love 1895 Music 1895 Blind Man 1896 Girl in the countryside 1896 Junius 1896 Orchard 1896 Schubert at the Piano I 1896 Sculpture 1896
Josef Lewinsky 1895 Love 1895 Music 1895 Blind Man 1896 Girl in the countryside 1896 Junius 1896 Orchard 1896 Schubert at the Piano I 1896 Sculpture 1896
Study of the Head of a Blind Man 1896 Girl with hat and cape in profil 1897 Lady in an Armchair 1897 Medizin. Kompositionsentwurf 1897 Lady with Cape and Hat 1897-1898 Portrait of a Lady 1897 Portrait of a Lady in Profil 1897 Schwebender Frauenakt 1897< Tragedy 1897
Study of the Head of a Blind Man 1896 Girl with hat and cape in profil 1897 Lady in an Armchair 1897 Medizin. 1897 Lady with Cape and Hat 1897-1898 Portrait of a Lady 1897 Portrait of a Lady in Profil 1897 Schwebender Frauenakt 1897 Tragedy 1897
Bewegte Wasser 1898 Fishblood 1898 Lady by the Fireplace 1898 Lady with Cape and Hat 1898 Madchen mit langen Haaren 1898 Minerva or Pallas Athena 1898 Music II 1898 Nuda veritas. Der Neid. Bare Truth. The Envy 1898 Painted composition draft Jusisprudenz 1898
Bewegte Wasser 1898 Fishblood 1898 Lady by the Fireplace 1898 Lady with Cape and Hat 1898 Madchen mit langen Haaren 1898 Minerva or Pallas Athena 1898 Music II 1898 Nuda veritas. Der Neid. Bare Truth. The Envy 1898 Painted composition draft Jusisprudenz 1898
Portrait of Helene Klimt 1898 Poster for the First Art Exhibition of the Secession 1898 Sonja Knips 1898 After the Rain. Garden with Chickens in St. Agatha 1899 Girl with Long Hair, with a sketch for 'Nude Veritas 1899 Nuda Veritas 1899 Orchard in the evening 1899 Portrait of a Woman 1899 Portrait of Serena Lederer 1899
Portrait of Helene Klimt 1898 Poster for the First Art Exhibition of the Secession 1898 Sonja Knips 1898 After the Rain. Garden with Chickens in St. Agatha 1899 Girl with Long Hair, with a sketch for 'Nude Veritas 1899 Nuda Veritas 1899 Orchard in the evening 1899 Portrait of a Woman 1899 Portrait of Serena Lederer 1899
Quiet pond in the park of Appeal 1899 Schubert at the Piano II 1899 Study for Philosophy 1899 The Swamp 1899 Water Nymphs. Silverfish 1899 Cows in the barn 1900 Farmhouses with Birch Trees 1900 Lake Attersee 1900 Old man on the deathbed 1900
Quiet pond in the park of Appeal 1899 Schubert at the Piano II 1899 Study for Philosophy 1899 The Swamp 1899 Water Nymphs. Silverfish 1899 Cows in the barn 1900 Farmhouses with Birch Trees 1900 Lake Attersee 1900 Old man on the deathbed 1900
The Black Bull 1900 The Tall Poplar Trees II 1900 Farmhouse in Kammer on Lake Attersee. Mill 1901 Fir Forest I 1901 Fruit Trees 1901 Januar 1901 Judith 1901 Judith and Holopherne 1901 Lakeside with Birch Trees 1901
The Black Bull 1900 The Tall Poplar Trees II 1900 Farmhouse in Kammer on Lake Attersee. Mill 1901 Fir Forest I 1901 Fruit Trees 1901 Januar 1901 Judith 1901 Judith and Holopherne 1901 Lakeside with Birch Trees 1901
Musik 1901 Portrait of Rose von Rosthorn-Friedmann 1901 Pine Forest II 1902 Beech Grove I 1902 Gerta Loew. Portrait of Gertha Felssovanyi 1902 Goldfish 1902 Island in the Attersee 1902 Kneeling Male Nude With Sprawled Out Arms, Male Torso 1902 Lasciviousness. Study 1902
Musik 1901 Portrait of Rose von Rosthorn-Friedmann 1901 Pine Forest II 1902 Beech Grove I 1902 Gerta Loew. Portrait of Gertha Felssovanyi 1902 Goldfish 1902 Island in the Attersee 1902 Kneeling Male Nude With Sprawled Out Arms, Male Torso 1902 Lasciviousness. Study 1902
Madchenakt 1902 Portrait of a Girl 1902 Portrait of Emilie Floge 1902 Portrait of Marie Henneberg 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Hostile Powers. Far Wall 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Hostile Powers 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Longing for Happiness Finds Repose in Poetry. Right wall 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Longing for Happiness Finds Repose in Poetry. Right wall, detail 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Longing for Happiness. fresco Left wall 1902
Madchenakt 1902 Portrait of a Girl 1902 Portrait of Emilie Floge 1902 Portrait of Marie Henneberg 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Hostile Powers. Far Wall 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Hostile Powers 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Longing for Happiness Finds Repose in Poetry. Right wall 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Longing for Happiness Finds Repose in Poetry. Right wall, detail 1902 The Beethoven Frieze. The Longing for Happiness. fresco Left wall 1902
Two Studies of Sitting Nudes 1902 Birch in a Forest 1903 Daphne. Girl With Blue Veil 1903 Farmhouse with Birch Trees 1903 Ghost Lights 1903 Golden Apple Tree 1903 Hope I 1903 Pear Tree 1903 The Big Poplar II 1903
Two Studies of Sitting Nudes 1902 Birch in a Forest 1903 Daphne. Girl With Blue Veil 1903 Farmhouse with Birch Trees 1903 Ghost Lights 1903 Golden Apple Tree 1903 Hope I 1903 Pear Tree 1903 The Big Poplar II 1903
The Golden Knight. Das Leben ein Kampf der goldene Ritter 1903 Portrait of Hermine Gallia 1904 Portrait of Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein 1905 Roses under the Trees 1905 The Three Ages of Woman 1905 The Expectation 1905-1911 Tree of Life 1905-1911 Knight 1905-1911 Landscape Garden. Meadow in Flower 1906
The Golden Knight. Das Leben ein Kampf der goldene Ritter 1903 Portrait of Hermine Gallia 1904 Portrait of Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein 1905 Roses under the Trees 1905 The Three Ages of Woman 1905 The Expectation 1905-1911 Tree of Life 1905-1911 Knight 1905-1911 Landscape Garden. Meadow in Flower 1906
Portrait of Fritza Riedler 1906 Schreitender Madchenakt 1906 Sitzende alte Frau im Profil nach links 1906 Flower Garden 1906-1907 The Sunflower 1907 Blooming field 1907 Country Garden with Sunflowers 1907 Danae 1907 Jurisprudence, final state 1907
Portrait of Fritza Riedler 1906 Schreitender Madchenakt 1906 Sitzende alte Frau im Profil nach links 1906 Flower Garden 1906-1907 The Sunflower 1907 Blooming field 1907 Country Garden with Sunflowers 1907 Danae 1907 Jurisprudence, final state 1907
Philosophy, final state 1907 Poppy Field 1907 Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I 1907 Medicine 1907 Medicine 1907 Water Snakes II 1907 Watersnakes 1907 Water Snakes II 1907 Water Castle. Schloss Kammer am Attersee 1908
Philosophy, final state 1907 Poppy Field 1907 Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I 1907 Medicine 1907 Medicine 1907 Water Snakes II 1907 Watersnakes 1907 Water Snakes II 1907 Water Castle. Schloss Kammer am Attersee 1908
Hope II 1908 The Kiss 1908 Water Castle 1908 Death and Life 1908-1911 Cartoon for the frieze in the Villa Stoclet in Brussels 1909 Cartoon for the Frieze of the Villa Stoclet in Brussels. 1909 Cartoon for the frieze of the Villa Stoclet in Brussels 1909 Expectation 1909 Judith II. Salome 1909
Hope II 1908 The Kiss 1908 Water Castle 1908 Death and Life 1908-1911 Cartoon for the frieze in the Villa Stoclet in Brussels 1909 Cartoon for the Frieze of the Villa Stoclet in Brussels 1909 Cartoon for the frieze of the Villa Stoclet in Brussels 1909 Expectation 1909 Judith II. Salome 1909
Lady with Hat and Feather Boa 1909 Old Woman 1909 Schloss Kammer am Attersee, II 1909 Sitzende von vorn 1909 The Tree of Life, Stoclet Frieze 1909 Mother with Children 1910 Park 1910 Reclining Nude Lying on Her Stomach and Facing Right 1910 Schloss Kammer on the Attersee IV 1910
Lady with Hat and Feather Boa 1909 Old Woman 1909 Schloss Kammer am Attersee, II 1909 Sitzende von vorn 1909 The Tree of Life, Stoclet Frieze 1909 Mother with Children 1910 Park 1910 Reclining Nude Lying on Her Stomach and Facing Right 1910 Schloss Kammer on the Attersee IV 1910
The Black Feather Hat 1910 The Park of Schloss Kammer am Attersee 1910 The Schloss Kammer on the Attersee, III 1910 Farmhouse in Upper Austria 1911 Sechs Skizzen einer frontal stehenden Figur 1911 Fruit Garden With Roses 1911-1912 Adele Bloch-Bauer 1912 Apple Tree, I 1912 Avenue of Schloss Kammer Park 1912
The Black Feather Hat 1910 The Park of Schloss Kammer am Attersee 1910 The Schloss Kammer on the Attersee, III 1910 Farmhouse in Upper Austria 1911 Sechs Skizzen einer frontal stehenden Figur 1911 Fruit Garden With Roses 1911-1912 Adele Bloch-Bauer 1912 Apple Tree, I 1912 Avenue of Schloss Kammer Park 1912
Farm Garden with Crucifix 1912 Mada Primavesi 1912 Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II 1912 The House of Guardaboschi 1912 Chruch in Cassone 1913 Italian horticultural landscape 1913 Malcesine on Lake Garda 1913 The Virgin 1913 Country House by the Attersee 1914
Farm Garden with Crucifix 1912 Mada Primavesi 1912 Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II 1912 The House of Guardaboschi 1912 Chruch in Cassone 1913 Italian horticultural landscape 1913 Malcesine on Lake Garda 1913 The Virgin 1913 Country House by the Attersee 1914
Litzlberg on Lake Attersee 1914 Portrait Of Eugenia Primavesi 1914 Portrait of Charlotte Pulitzer 1915 Portrait of Barbara Floge. Mother of Emilie Floge 1915 Apple Tree II 1916 Church in Unterach on the Attersee 1916 Death and Life 1916 Fredericke Maria Beer 1916 Horticultural landscape with a hilltop 1916
Litzlberg on Lake Attersee 1914 Portrait Of Eugenia Primavesi 1914 Portrait of Charlotte Pulitzer 1915 Portrait of Barbara Floge. Mother of Emilie Floge 1915 Apple Tree II 1916 Church in Unterach on the Attersee 1916 Death and Life 1916 Fredericke Maria Beer 1916 Horticultural landscape with a hilltop 1916
Houses at Unterach on the Attersee 1916 Lady with Muff 1916 Park of Schonbrunn 1916 Portrait of Baroness Elisabeth Bachofen-Echt 1916 Portrat einer sitzenden Dame mit Boa 1916 The Polecat Fur 1916 Unterach on Lake Attersee 1916 Girlfriends. The Women Friends 1916-1917 Portrait of a Lady 1916-1917
Houses at Unterach on the Attersee 1916 Lady with Muff 1916 Park of Schonbrunn 1916 Portrait of Baroness Elisabeth Bachofen-Echt 1916 Portrat einer sitzenden Dame mit Boa 1916 The Polecat Fur 1916 Unterach on Lake Attersee 1916 Girlfriends. The Women Friends 1916-1917 Portrait of a Lady 1916-1917
The Dancer, formerly Ria Munk II 1916-1918 Garden with Roosters 1917 The Bride 1917 Adam and Eva 1917-1918 Amalie Zuckerkandl 1917-1918 Portrait of Johanna Staude 1917-1918 Ria Munk On Her Deathbed 1917-1918 Baby 1918 Lady with Fan 1918
The Dancer, formerly Ria Munk II 1916-1918 Garden with Roosters 1917 The Bride 1917 Adam and Eva 1917-1918 Amalie Zuckerkandl 1917-1918 Portrait of Johanna Staude 1917-1918 Ria Munk On Her Deathbed 1917-1918 Baby 1918 Lady with Fan 1918
Portrait of a Lady 1918 Portrait of a Lady in White 1918 Portrait of a Woman. 'Portrait of Maria Munk' 1918 Standing Woman in Kimono. Dame im Kimono 1918 Stoclet Fries Beethoven Frieze Beethoven Frieze
Portrait of a Lady 1918 Portrait of a Lady in White 1918 Portrait of a Woman. 'Portrait of Maria Munk' 1918 Standing Woman in Kimono. Dame im Kimono 1918 Stoclet Fries Beethoven Frieze Beethoven Frieze