Gustav Klimt, son of engraver, was born on July 14th 1862 in Baumgarten which was close to Vienna. In 1876, Klimt went to painting classes taught by the professor Julius Viktorq Berger in the Art and Crafts School. His training ended in 1883 and he founded the "Künstlercompagnie" (Artists Company) that same year. This foundation included his brother Ernst Klimt and Franz Matsch. In 1886, in Burgtheater, Klimt's style started to be different brother's and Matsch's; at the same time, Klimt steps back from the academic formalism. In 1888, Klimt receives a golden medal of merit and he then traveled to Cracovia, Trieste, Venice and Munich.

A few years later, after Klimt's father's and brother's death in 1892, Gustav Klimt founded the "Wiener Secession" (Vienna's Secession) including Maria Olbrich and Joseph Hoffmann, Klimt became the Head of this foundation presented then, his first exhibition a year later. However, Olbrich and Hoffmann resign to the Vienna's Secession in 1905. One year later, Klimt creates the Artists Austrian Federation, in which Klimt is named its President. After this nomination, the artist travel to Brussels, London and Florece. In 1907, Klimt presented his first erotic drawings. In 1909, Klimt's golden years ended. The artist died on February 6th 1918 in Vienna.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, Klimt was considered as an incontrovertible artist in the Viennese scenery. He put together the different trends of modern art and combined both figurative and ornamental together into a style of plain colors which gave the observer an illusion both sensual and eye-catching.

© Hardy Schulz, Hamburg - Valérie BRUN, New Jersey