The name of Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) is intimately associated in the art-lover"s mind with sensuous lines, erotic and beautiful women, and decorative golden detail. His paintings are instantly recognizable and have been exhibited in major art galleries worldwide, ensuring Klimt an international reputation as one of the foremost artist of his era. At the start of this century, the critic Hermann Bahr wrote in his "Speech on Klimt" of 1901, "Just as only a lover can reveal to a man what life means to him and develop its innermost significance, I feel the same about these paintings". This statement, by comparing the rapport of Klimt"s works with the viewer to the relationship between lovers, stood as a striking metaphorical expression of the emotional intensity that they inspired.
It is surprising, given Klimt s fame today, that before the mid-twentieth century his work was little known outside the European art elite. It was not until he became the subject of extensive art-historical and critical interest that he was claimed by the general public.
Klimt"s rise to prominence has been more complex than that of many other artists who are now regarded as great modern masters. He is often perceived as an isolated and misunderstood artist, working in opposition to the prevailing moral climate of his time: Hermann Bahr"s statement, quoted above, was part of a sustained defence of Klimt"s work in the face of the establishment"s disapproval of his evocative depictions of sexual themes. Yet, Klimt actually worked as a successful painter within his own lifetime, particularly as a portraitist and as the creator of several significant large-scale projects.
Today, Klimt is regarded as one of the progenitors of Viennese Modernism: he was a leader of the Secessionists and a motivating example for younger artists in the revolt against the values of their parents" generation. A crucial player within the artistic dynamics of fin-de-siecle Vienna, his career was closely related to some of the most important developments of the second half of the 1800s in both the institutions and practice of art. However, Klimt also produced significant work during the early years of the twentieth century. His essential "modernity" thus bridges both centuries, and has become a crucial and fascinating aspect of his historical importance.