Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)
was a prominent member of an innovating
group of artists called 'Sezession' and is considered to be one of the
main pioneers of modern art. Apart from this, his ornamental Jugendstil
style evokes an irresistible feeling which is inspired by the
'fin-de-siecle' of 19th century Vienna: elitist, liberal-middle class,
decadent, pleasantly-decorative. His work is extremely recognizable due
to his monumental style combined with Byzantine-like ornamental art and
classical symbolism, created against the background of romanticism
which was so characteristic of his time. In Sezession's own words: "Art
guides us to an ideal realm, the only place where we will be able to
find pure joy, pure happiness and pure love. A choir of angels from
paradise. Joy given by divine sparkles. That kiss from the entire
world!"
EGON SCHIELE (1890-1918)
The artist and painter who,
during his short life, developed from a Jugendstil artist into the
exponent of Viennese expressionism. Because nearly his entire family
worked for the Austrian railways, Egon Schiele was expected to do the
same. Instead, this self-willed young man signed up for the Viennese
art academy. He admired Sezession and in particular Gustav Klimt whom
he had met in 1907 and who took him under his wing as a
protégé. In Schiele’s early work his liking for
Eastern-Asian art can be recognized immediately, and it links up
perfectly with the illustrative, ornamental Viennese Jugendstil. Later
on he developed a powerful angular style which was entirely his own,
and which made him into the exponent of early Viennese expressionism.
Much of his work consists of portraits, including many self portraits
where he sometimes distinguished himself from his subject in a most
frightening fashion. Its sexual aspect, which is nearly always present,
is sometimes explicitly expressed. The combination of colours, which
was added after the drawing was finished, is sharp and alienating.
Death, with which he was frequently confronted during his short life,
played a big part in his choice of subject. Egon Schiele led a short,
eventful and, for those days, scandalous life. In 1918 he died of the
Spanish flu, 28 years of age, and some months after his young wife
Edith fell victim to the same epidemic.
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