To whom did Klimt dedicated his little-known portraits, around which there are still guesses and disputes

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Some of Klimt's portraits have already acquired iconic status, for example, his portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, made with elements of gold. However, before Klimt became the head of the Vienna Secession movement in 1897, he wrote in a very conventional style, as demanded by his clients. Most of the works presented below are unknown portraits of Klimt, or, at least, much less famous than those that are unmistakably recognized even by people who are far from art.

Gustav's life was bright and eventful. He never sat idle and constantly improved his skills and craftsmanship, experimenting with one or another direction and form. Not surprisingly, in his early years he was awarded a scholarship from the Vienna School of Art, where he trained as an architectural painter.

Soon, Gustav and his brother Enrst, who dreamed of following in his father's footsteps and engaging in engraving, as well as friend Franz Machszm, decided to work together. Thanks to this, by 1880, young people received a lot of orders, which consisted of creating frescoes specifically for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

After such a colossal success, they opened a studio specializing in interior decoration, in particular, theaters, decorating them throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And many of their works can still be seen there.

Five years later, they were commissioned to decorate the country residence of Empress Elizabeth, Villa Hermes near Vienna (A Midsummer Night's Dream). And a year later, the artists were asked to decorate the Vienna Burgtheater, in fact, recognizing them as the foremost decorators of Austria.

When the work was completed, the artists were awarded the Golden Cross of the Verdienstkreuz service, and Klimt was commissioned to paint the auditorium of the old Burgtheater - a work that made him famous throughout the world.

This painting, with its almost photographic accuracy, is considered one of the greatest achievements in naturalist painting. As a result, Gustav was awarded the Imperial Prize and became a fashionable portrait painter as well as a leading painter of his time. Paradoxically, it was at this moment, when the fabulous career of a classicist artist unfolded in front of him, that he began to turn to radically new styles of art.

In the next few years, the artistic trio disbanded. Franz wanted to take up portraiture, which he did with some success. Meanwhile, the changed style of Gustav did not allow them to work together on any project. In addition, Ernst died in 1892, shortly after the death of their father.

Struck by this double tragedy, Gustav withdrew from public life, focusing on experimentation and study of contemporary art styles as well as historical styles that were ignored within the establishment, such as Japanese, Chinese, Ancient Egyptian and Mycenaean art.

But soon he began work on his last public commission: paintings "Philosophy, Medicine and Jurisprudence" for the University of Vienna. Three of them will not be completed until the early 1900s, and they will be severely criticized for their radical style and what was, according to the mores of the time, obscenity. Unfortunately, the paintings were destroyed during the Second World War, leaving only black and white reproductions of them.

The artist was not alone in his opposition to the Austrian artistic establishment of the time. In 1897, together with forty other famous Viennese artists, he left the Academy of Arts and founded the "Union of Austrian Artists", better known as the Secession, where he was immediately elected head. Although the Union did not have clearly defined goals or support for certain styles, it was opposed to the classicist establishment.

In the early 1900s, the artist completed the Beethoven Frieze, which was presented as a result at the fourteenth separatist exhibition in Vienna. It was supposed to be a special celebration in honor of the famous composer, and therefore included many works inspired by him, including a polychrome sculpture created by Max Klinger.

Despite his popularity, the artist preferred to spend time alone with himself, his own thoughts and work, and he also enjoyed spending the summer with the Flege family on the banks of the Attersee, where, indulging in inspiration, he painted magnificent landscapes.

Gustav's paintings at Uttersee deserve a separate assessment and are truly admirable, because he painted most of them while looking through a telescope.

The "golden phase" of the artist was received with a bang, both by the public and by critics. Many of his paintings from this period were created using gold leaf, making each work unique in its own way.

Although the artist did not travel much, it was his visits to places like Venice and Ravenna that inspired him to create his unique golden technique with a touch of Byzantine style.

In addition, he put a lot of effort into joint work on the creation of the design of the Stoclet Palace, which will ultimately be recognized as the property and one of the main historical values of modernism.

In addition to all this, Gustav painted five paintings depicting ladies of the world, who were dressed in fur clothes. These works showed his enthusiasm and craving for detail, which is especially clearly demonstrated in the depiction of clothing and costumes. Some of them, the so-called modeling clothes, he created especially for his beloved Emilia Flöge.

His fame allowed him to be picky and selective, so he very carefully selected his models, working diligently and painstakingly on each portrait, demanding maximum concentration or relaxedness from his clients.

Closer to 1910, Gustav finally abandoned his golden style, creating at last the final painting "Death and Life", which was presented at an international exhibition in Rome, where it won first place. However, despite this, the artist was dissatisfied with this work of art and exactly a year later he changed the background from gold to blue.

Having suffered a stroke and pneumonia, Gustav died exactly three years after the death of his beloved mother. He was buried on the grounds of the Hetzing cemetery in the city of Vienna, respectively, he did not have time to finish most of his paintings. His works are often distinguished by elegant gold or colored décor, spirals and curls, and phallic forms used to conceal the more erotic positions of the drawings on which many of his paintings are based.

Art historians note an eclectic range of influences contributing to Klimt's distinctive style, including Egyptian, Minoan, Classical Greek, and Byzantine inspiration. He was also inspired by Albrecht Dürer's engravings, and his later works are characterized by a rejection of early naturalistic styles and use symbols or symbolic elements to convey psychological ideas and emphasize the freedom of art from traditional culture. However, each painting he created is considered unique, even those that few people know about.

Portraits of Emilia Flege

In 1891, when this painting was completed, an alliance was concluded between the Klimt and Flege families. Gustav's brother, Ernst, married Emily's sister, Helene. Emily was then seventeen years old, Gustav was twelve years older, and this was their first meeting, which subsequently led to a friendship for life. Three years later, he painted it again, this time in a specific location. It is also worth noting the fact that this work was intended for the Burgtheater in Vienna, and not for the family salon.

Portrait of Marie Breinig

Marie Breinig was born in humble conditions, but married a successful businessman. This allowed her to often visit Viennese society. She befriended the Flege sisters and became a client of their fashion salon.

Despite the fact that many art critics and historians knew about this portrait, nevertheless, it is still not available for public viewing, as the owners want to maintain their anonymity. In addition, it is the only portrait left in the original family possession, which still hangs in its intended place.

Portrait of an unknown woman

The painting has been described as "Portrait of an Unknown Woman", but some interpret this lady as Frau Heyman, since the museum acquired the painting from the collector Dr. August Heyman by bequest. If you look at the background of the portrait, you will notice simple and rather stereotypical floral patterns that herald the stylistic changes that the separatist Ver Sacrum will introduce in three years.

Portrait of a seated young girl

Despite the size of the reproduction, this portrait is actually very small: 14 by 9 cm and painted on wood, not canvas. The composition resembles a portrait of Mary (above). An unknown girl is dressed in a fashionable dress and looks directly at the viewer. Any idea who it might be?

Portrait of Helen Klimt

Helen was only two months old when her father, Gustav's brother, passed away. Gustav took custody of the girl and promised her mother help. The girl became the pride of the family, and as she grew up she joined the Floge fashion house, helping with administration, accounting and consulting clients. This portrait is dominated by the girl's crisp bob haircut, which is then complemented by Klimt's impressionistic depiction of her white blouse in just a few strokes.

From time immemorial, the life and work of artists was on everyone's lips and mind. Some are idolized, uplifting to heaven, others are condemned, accusing them of all mortal sins, and others are discussed, attributing something that often did not actually exist. Was not an exception and Modigliani, around whom unabated passions raged from the public, wishing to find out what actually connected him with Akhmatova, and what caused the death of Jeanne Hébuterne.