gustav+klimt

__Gustav Klimt__**:** was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna, the second of seven children — three boys and four girls. All three sons displayed artistic talent early on. His father, Ernst Klimt, formerly from Bohemia, was a gold engraver. Ernst married Anna Klimt (née Finster), whose unrealized ambition was to be a musical performer. Klimt lived in poverty for most of his childhood, as work was scarce and the economy difficult for immigrants. He was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects. Klimt's primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism. Love 1895 (90 Kb); Museum der Stadt Wien, Vienna Detail of a well-dressed woman closing her eyes and abandoning herself to her first kiss. A gypsy-like man looks down on her about to kiss her. The Beethoven Frieze 1902 (120 Kb); Secession Building, Vienna Detail from the first wall of the frieze depicting man's search of happiness. This section shows a naked man and woman praying for the knight (modeled on Gustav Mahler) who will set out in search of happiness. Behind the man and woman is a second woman who gazes on in contemplation. Above the knight other woman give the knight a laurel crown. The Beethoven Frieze 1902 (110 Kb); Secession Building, Vienna Detail from the third wall of the frieze depicting man's search of happiness. This section shows the woman used in the repeating motif sitting. Her swirling hair and the gold behind her have a grain like wood

Bibliography: http://www.dl.ket.org/webmuseum/wm/paint/auth/klimt/klimt.beethoven-frieze2.jpg

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/klimt/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt

http://www.klimtgallery.org/