Klimt

By Gottfried Fliedl

Book Overview

The unfading popularity of Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) attests not only to the particular appeal of his luxuriant painting but also to the universal themes with which he worked: love, feminine beauty, aging, and death.

The son of a goldsmith, Klimt created surfaces of ornate and jewel-like luminosity which show the influence of both Egyptian and Japanese art. Through paintings, murals, and friezes, his work is defined by radiant color, fluid lines, floral elements, and mosaic-like patterning.

With subjects ranging from sensuality and desire to anxiety and despair, all this iridescence is also suffused with feeling. Klimt's numerous images of women, characterized by curvaceous forms, tender flesh, red lips, and flushed cheeks, were particularly charged with passion, at a time when such frank eroticism was still taboo in Viennese upper-middle-class society.

This book presents a selection of Klimt's work, introducing his pictorial world of decoration and desire, as well as his influence on artists to come.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3836558076
• ISBN13: 9783836558075
• Release Date: July 2015
• Publisher: Taschen
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.5" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

Fantastical Female Forms

I know some people might HATE this characterization, but Klimt is on my shelf next to "Fantasy Artists". His stuff is beautiful, fanciful, and often even "eerie". The surreal, dreamlike quality of so much of his work, the themes... yes, definitely.

Gustav Klimt

Over the years, I've only looked at Klimt from the edges - that is, I was aware only of the more popular poster images you couldn't help seeing here and there. But this book is a big revelation to me. Such genius! He is truly amazing, and I had no idea of the range of his thought or the depth of his talent. He was a superb draftsman, which enabled him to take risks with the figure because he knew exactly what he was doing. A well-designed book - a complete visual pleasure, and fire to the imagination.

luxuriously recreated prints from one of the masters!

klimt's work is endlessly fascinating... its eroticism, its mythological references, its composition. klimt captures the power and symbolism of color and shape in a way that is unique amongst artists in the canon. his images are not merely pictures of women (and a few men), but stories with complicated layers of meaning. all this delicate beauty could be easily lost in printing, but this book has somehow managed to preserve it, and it is amazing! the text gives biographical and historical context, which is always helpful, and even ventures into analysis -- i enjoy knowing other people's perspectives, because it helps me to read deeper into what i'm seeing. all the master works are here, as well as many treasures that are often overlooked. if you are interested in art nouveau, art history, symbolism in art, and/or art history you really should own this book. believe me, it is well worth the price -- i wasn't expecting much for (the price), and would have willingly paid much more. i wish i had it in hardback though...

The best one I've seen

This book is great. Contains alot of Klimt's paintings, all color plates, and alot of the drawings. The quality of prints is wonderful. I have seen many different books on Klimt's works and this one is definitely the best by quality and content and for a great price too! Highly recommend it to anyone.

Beautiful Color Reproductions!!

Klimt is my favorite artist and yet it is so difficult to find quality reproductions of his works; usually the color is faded or the gold leaf comes out a sickly yellow!! This book has beautiful reproductions and concise and informative explanations next to each painting as well as an interesting biography on Klimt. I highly recommend this book for a clear, concise overview.