Gustav Klimt has been called the preeminent exponent of ART NOUVEAU.
In 1886-92, Klimt executed mural decorations for staircases at the Burgtheater
and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna; these confirmed Klimt's eclecticism
and broadened his range of historical references. Klimt was a cofounder
and the first president of the Vienna Secession, a group of modernist
architects and artists who organized their own exhibition society and
gave rise to the SECESSION MOVEMENT, or the Viennese version of Art Nouveau.
Gustav
Klimt : Modernism in the Making
Among the important decorative projects undertaken by Klimt were his celebrated
Beethoven frieze (1902; Osterreichische Galerie), a cycle of mosaic decorations
for Josef Hofmann's Palais Stoclet in Brussels (1905-09), and numerous
book illustrations.
The primal forces of sexuality, regeneration, love, and death form the dominant themes of Klimt's work. His paintings of femmes fatales, such as Judith I (1901; Osterreichische Galerie, Vienna), personify the dark side of sexual attraction.
The Kiss (1907-08; Osterreichische Galerie) celebrates the attraction of the sexes; and Hope I (1903; National Gallery, Ottawa) juxtaposes the promise of new life with the destroying force of death. The sensualism and originality of Klimt's art led to a hostile reaction to his three ceiling murals--Philosophy (1900), Medicine (1901), and Jurisprudence (1902)--for the University of Vienna.
Contains alot of Klimt's paintings, all color plates, and alot of the drawings. The quality of prints is wonderful. I have seen many different books on Klimt's works and this one is definitely the best by quality and content and for a great price too!