Artist's Presentation
At the beginning of the semester I was assigned to pick an artist to study throughout the class. I was to research their life and how they became an artist. My first assignment was to write a report on the personal life and motivations behind the chosen artist. Following that I was suppose to use a work of art by the artist as inspiration for a sketch. The sketch had to resemble the artist's original work but also creatively incorporate a cow or a cat into the painting. After the sketch was complete I painted it using the colors and technics of the artist. For this signature assignment I chose to study the life and works of Gustav Klimt. On this page you will find my report, my sketch, his original work, and my revised painting.
Artist Report
Objective: Investigate the artist whose work inspires you to replicate his/her style.
Personal life:
Name of Artist: Gustav Klimt
Birth Date: July 14, 1862
Birth Place: Baumgarten, Austro-Hungarian Empire
What later life events (marriage, children, deaths, etc.) had a major influence on the artist?
Klimt was born into a very artistic family; his father was a gold engraver, his mother a performer, and his two brothers just as talented as Gustav. Although his childhood was uneventful at the age of 14 years old a relative finally convinced him to apply to Kunstgewerbeschule, the Viennese School of Arts and Crafts. This is where Gustav’s art career took off. Klimt became very successful in school and impressed many of his teachers. He even started his own painting class at the school. It was in this class that Klimt met his long time art partner Franz Matsch. After graduating the two artists bought a studio together and began working on several projects.
By the end of 1892 however Klimt’s father and younger brother, Ernst, both passed away. Gustav was now left financially responsible for his mother, sisters, and is brother’s widow and daughter. While spending time with Ernst’s widow and her family Klimt started an intimate friendship with the widow’s sister, Emilie Floge, which would continue until his death and a friendship that would be the basis for one of his most famous paintings. After these deaths Klimt began to slow his pace of work and even began questioning the conventions of academic painting. This created tension between Klimt and Matsch and in 1893 only Matsch began the project for the Great Hall of the University of Vienna. Klimt eventually joined but it would be the last time the two worked together.
Gustav took this commission and decided to paint images that were highly symbolic and difficult to read. This was a major turn in Klimt’s attitude toward painting and art in general. These paintings became highly controversial for their vagueness and nudity in some images. The paintings were never installed and Klimt decided to never create another public commission.
Time Period:
Describe what prevailing style of art was popular when the artist first started?
When Klimt attended art school in Vienna artists were still following the styles of Naturalism and Realism. He became highly influenced by Hans Makart, who at the time was one of the most well known painters. His work, along with Klimt’s original work, was very hyper realistic and followed the style of the time.
What ‘new’ style did the artist start, or get involved in?
Gustav Klimt shifted from the naturalism and realism and moved closer to symbolism and the art nouveau movement. Klimt disregarded historical styles and gained inspirations from organic and geometric forms and created images with natural forms but with more angular contours.
What important historical events happened during the artist’s lifetime that influenced one or more pieces?
In 1897 Gustav Klimt left Vienna’s leading association of artists called the Kunstlerhaus along with several other artists such as Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, and Joseph Maria Olbrich. These artists believed that the Kunstlerhaus was denying modernists the right to have their work displayed in exhibits and were only catering to the traditional designs. Coming together these artists founded the Vienna Secession, which Klimt presided. The Secession aimed to provide young artist with opportunities to exhibit their work, bring new artists to Vienna, and publish a magazine that would showcase artwork. The Secession not only played a part in Klimt’s artistic style but it affected Modernism as a whole. The rebellion was so powerful it created the transformation of society through art. The Secession helped to organize exhibitions for these new artists and received wide acclaim from the public. In 1902 the 14th Exhibition was held in honor of Ludwig van Beethoven for which Klimt created his famous work Beethoven Frieze. The artwork had no reference to any of Beethoven’s compositions but was seen as complex, lyrical, and highly ornate allegory of the artist as God.
Select one piece that your artist did:
Name of the piece: Adele Bloch-Bauer I
What is it about?
Adele Bloch-Bauer I is one of Klimt’s most famous works and is a portrait of a Adele Bloch-Bauer, the wife of Viennese banker and sugar magnate Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. Out of all the women Klimt painted Adele was one of his favorites. She sat for two portraits and was the model for several of Klimt’s other paintings.
Why did you choose this piece?
I choose this piece because of its use of realism in the woman’s face but the rest is abstract. I like the juxtaposition of the two artistic styles in one image. I also love Gustav Klimt’s works from his Golden Age. The fact that it is partly painted and part gold leaf makes the work standout and makes it fun to look at.
Name two elements of design that the artist used in this piece:
Klimt uses a lot of elements of design in this work. Two of them are the use of shape (positive and negative) along with the use of texture with value.
Name one principle of design that the artist used in this piece:
One principle Gustav Klimt used in this piece is rhythm in the use of color and the flow of the lines.
When you first looked at this piece what was your reaction to it?
When I very first saw this piece I was very intrigued and wanted to look at it closer. I was fascinated with the use of gold and liked the way it was used in the image and wanted to look at the details. I was also very attracted to the styles used in the pieces and the use of abstraction against the realism.
Did your reaction change as you studied this piece? Explain.
My reaction didn’t change much as I studied this pieced. I was intrigued by it and I still am. I love this painting and the emotions that it portrays. It creates a feeling of peace but also of excitement. It is very beautiful and is a great portrait. I am very impressed by Gustav Klimt and his artistic abilities.
Sources:
1. iKlimt app
2. theartstory.org
Personal life:
Name of Artist: Gustav Klimt
Birth Date: July 14, 1862
Birth Place: Baumgarten, Austro-Hungarian Empire
What later life events (marriage, children, deaths, etc.) had a major influence on the artist?
Klimt was born into a very artistic family; his father was a gold engraver, his mother a performer, and his two brothers just as talented as Gustav. Although his childhood was uneventful at the age of 14 years old a relative finally convinced him to apply to Kunstgewerbeschule, the Viennese School of Arts and Crafts. This is where Gustav’s art career took off. Klimt became very successful in school and impressed many of his teachers. He even started his own painting class at the school. It was in this class that Klimt met his long time art partner Franz Matsch. After graduating the two artists bought a studio together and began working on several projects.
By the end of 1892 however Klimt’s father and younger brother, Ernst, both passed away. Gustav was now left financially responsible for his mother, sisters, and is brother’s widow and daughter. While spending time with Ernst’s widow and her family Klimt started an intimate friendship with the widow’s sister, Emilie Floge, which would continue until his death and a friendship that would be the basis for one of his most famous paintings. After these deaths Klimt began to slow his pace of work and even began questioning the conventions of academic painting. This created tension between Klimt and Matsch and in 1893 only Matsch began the project for the Great Hall of the University of Vienna. Klimt eventually joined but it would be the last time the two worked together.
Gustav took this commission and decided to paint images that were highly symbolic and difficult to read. This was a major turn in Klimt’s attitude toward painting and art in general. These paintings became highly controversial for their vagueness and nudity in some images. The paintings were never installed and Klimt decided to never create another public commission.
Time Period:
Describe what prevailing style of art was popular when the artist first started?
When Klimt attended art school in Vienna artists were still following the styles of Naturalism and Realism. He became highly influenced by Hans Makart, who at the time was one of the most well known painters. His work, along with Klimt’s original work, was very hyper realistic and followed the style of the time.
What ‘new’ style did the artist start, or get involved in?
Gustav Klimt shifted from the naturalism and realism and moved closer to symbolism and the art nouveau movement. Klimt disregarded historical styles and gained inspirations from organic and geometric forms and created images with natural forms but with more angular contours.
What important historical events happened during the artist’s lifetime that influenced one or more pieces?
In 1897 Gustav Klimt left Vienna’s leading association of artists called the Kunstlerhaus along with several other artists such as Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, and Joseph Maria Olbrich. These artists believed that the Kunstlerhaus was denying modernists the right to have their work displayed in exhibits and were only catering to the traditional designs. Coming together these artists founded the Vienna Secession, which Klimt presided. The Secession aimed to provide young artist with opportunities to exhibit their work, bring new artists to Vienna, and publish a magazine that would showcase artwork. The Secession not only played a part in Klimt’s artistic style but it affected Modernism as a whole. The rebellion was so powerful it created the transformation of society through art. The Secession helped to organize exhibitions for these new artists and received wide acclaim from the public. In 1902 the 14th Exhibition was held in honor of Ludwig van Beethoven for which Klimt created his famous work Beethoven Frieze. The artwork had no reference to any of Beethoven’s compositions but was seen as complex, lyrical, and highly ornate allegory of the artist as God.
Select one piece that your artist did:
Name of the piece: Adele Bloch-Bauer I
What is it about?
Adele Bloch-Bauer I is one of Klimt’s most famous works and is a portrait of a Adele Bloch-Bauer, the wife of Viennese banker and sugar magnate Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. Out of all the women Klimt painted Adele was one of his favorites. She sat for two portraits and was the model for several of Klimt’s other paintings.
Why did you choose this piece?
I choose this piece because of its use of realism in the woman’s face but the rest is abstract. I like the juxtaposition of the two artistic styles in one image. I also love Gustav Klimt’s works from his Golden Age. The fact that it is partly painted and part gold leaf makes the work standout and makes it fun to look at.
Name two elements of design that the artist used in this piece:
Klimt uses a lot of elements of design in this work. Two of them are the use of shape (positive and negative) along with the use of texture with value.
Name one principle of design that the artist used in this piece:
One principle Gustav Klimt used in this piece is rhythm in the use of color and the flow of the lines.
When you first looked at this piece what was your reaction to it?
When I very first saw this piece I was very intrigued and wanted to look at it closer. I was fascinated with the use of gold and liked the way it was used in the image and wanted to look at the details. I was also very attracted to the styles used in the pieces and the use of abstraction against the realism.
Did your reaction change as you studied this piece? Explain.
My reaction didn’t change much as I studied this pieced. I was intrigued by it and I still am. I love this painting and the emotions that it portrays. It creates a feeling of peace but also of excitement. It is very beautiful and is a great portrait. I am very impressed by Gustav Klimt and his artistic abilities.
Sources:
1. iKlimt app
2. theartstory.org