Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was an Austrian painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His work is known for its decorative, highly stylized aesthetic, and for its exploration of themes related to sexuality, death, and the human psyche.

Klimt was born in Vienna and studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. He began his career as a decorative painter, working on murals and other large-scale decorative projects. In the late 1890s, he helped found the Vienna Secession, a group of artists who rejected the conservative academic style of painting and sought to create a new, modern form of art.

Klimt's work was heavily influenced by his interest in the decorative arts, and he was known for his use of ornamental patterns and rich, vibrant colors. His paintings often featured highly stylized, elongated figures, and he frequently incorporated gold leaf into his works to create a sense of luxury and opulence.