On Gustav Klimt and His Painting “Music”

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Gustav Klimt was born in Austria in 1862. Young Klimt attended the Vienna Craft School until 1883, whereupon he left school in order to found the Austrian Art Nouveau movement. As with any secessionist movement, the Art Nouveau movement has foundations in uprooting the status quo of the traditional academic art style of Europe, and most importantly, Vienna. Klimt?s earlier work consisted mostly of multi-paneled murals that were purchased by well-to-do business people in his hometown of Vienna. Hinging on the success of his earlier work, Klimt accepted a project to paint many large-murals for neighboring theaters, and this would end up being a nice transitional aspect, though not for the reasons that Klimt could have estimated.

With an unremarkable naturalistic style, Klimt?s art was received with moderate appreciation, until the calamity of the three murals project, philosophy, medicine and jurisprudence, forced Klimt to rethink his position, on mural paintings. Not long after the harsh public criticism, that be fell Klimt from those three murals, the retreat back to panel painting, was completed. This was the world?s benefit and gain as Gustav Klimt would then take on this newly rediscovered love of panels and painting and emerge as one of the most valued and adored painters, of the 20th century. Riding the success of some of his most beloved works, the series of mosaic murals, how they spoke of it, Klimt was then able to adequately explore what his heart desire always wanted to, Art Nouveau.

Klimt founded the Vienna Secession and became the first president of this anti-traditional art conglomeration. With a definite and irrepressible characteristic style of painting, Gustav Klimt became the pioneering forefather of the modern art movement of the 20th century. As Klimt began to gain notoriety and respect in the art world, even among the high brow aristocratic populace of Vienna, he started to delve into the uses of silvers and gold?s in his artwork. This led to one of the most important modern art works of the 20th century, ?Still Life Music and Literature?. This wonderful masterpiece, was one in a series of oriental inspired, metallic painted, works that made up the music grouping. Klimt would say of this painting, ?I can paint and draw, I believe this and a few other people say they believe this too, but I?m not certain of whether it?s true, since there is nothing special to see when looking at me?.

?I?m a painter who paints day in and day out from morning till evening-figure pictures and landscapes more rarely portraits, that?s all I do that?s all I am?, Gustav Klimt spoke of himself with pure humbleness, that is normally reserved for clergy and politicians, yet the public embraced Klimt as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century modern Art Nouveau. Gustav Klimt?s Still Life Music and Literature, while a masterpiece oil painting painted in 1895, shows the depth and rich decorative style and patterning, that this founding father of modern art is still known for today. The painting catches the light from whatever source, and sends it back down to the painting, allowing the colors to mix with the rays of the sun, exploding back up in color and brilliance. The objects in the painting music, are significant, in the fact that there is one woman, strumming or plucking away at a musical-string instrument guitar, with a statue of a lion and human combination figure, all bringing together the personal perception of what music is to every individual.

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Donald Flemming writes on art for http://ownapainting.com. Ownapainting.com offers 100% hand painted versions of Klimt Reproductions as well as reproductions of Music and more!