Gustav Klimt, (1862-1918) is an Austrian
Symbolist painter and master of the Art Nouveau movement. Trained as an
architectural painter, he early on painted many official decorations: walls and
ceilings of theaters, public buildings, villas. In 1897 he founded with his
friends the secessionist group, whose aim was to break with academicism and
elevate Austrian art to international recognition. His themes were then
eroticism, love and representation of the human body, some considered as
scandalous. Until 1910, he painted a great deal and produced major works,
including the "Portrait of Adèle Bloch-Bauer" (1907) and "Le
Baiser" (1908). This is the "golden period", so named in
reference to the many gold leaves that the painter uses. In 1910, Klimt finally
found success and recognition during his participation at the Venice Biennale.
