Gustav Klimt

The end of the 19th century brought new ideas and discoveries in to the contemporary society, cities like Vienna played a major role in promoting innovations in culture and industry. Gustav Klimt was one of the central figures of the Viennnese high society, even though he was the one who shocked masses with his imaginative vision by rejecting the contemporary canons of morality. He was not completely accepted by his contemporaries, but his creative influence is still growing strong through the centuries.
Woman was Klimt’s most favourite subject; in his work he exploited feminine sensuality, tying it together with symbolic meanings. For his own reasons Klimt did not enjoy discussing his work in public, but at the same moment what can one say about Life and Death(This subject lingered through all of his creative career), these subjects are simultaneously so complex and easy, one has to draw own conclusions.
There is an opinion why Klimt was so highly criticized. In his work Klimt used contemporary models, which could have been easily identified. They stood too far away from the depictions of goddesses during the Renaissance, as they stood free of the boundaries of the contemporary society.
Gustav Klimt (Living Art Series)Prestel (23 Feb 2007)by Nina Kransel