Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimtwas an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, sketches, and other objets d'art. Klimt's primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism. In addition to his figurative works, which include allegories and portraits, he painted landscapes. Among the artists of the Vienna Secession, Klimt was the most influenced by Japanese art and its methods...
NationalityAustrian
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth14 July 1862
CityVienna, Austria
CountryAustria
Then I paint again for a while: if the sun is shining a picture of the lake, if it's overcast then a landscape from the window of my room.
Today I want to start working again in earnest - I'm looking forward to it because doing nothing does become rather boring after a while.
Sometimes I miss out the morning's painting session and instead study my Japanese books in the open.
There is nothing that special to see when looking at me.
On my first days here I did not start work immediately but, as planned, I took it easy for a few days - flicked through books, studied Japanese art a little.
True relaxation, which would do me the world of good, does not exist for me.
After tea it's back to painting - a large poplar at dusk with a gathering storm. From time to time instead of this evening painting session I go bowling in one of the neighbouring villages, but not very often.
There is no self-portrait of me.
Although even when I am being idle I have plenty of food for thought both early and late - thoughts both about and not about art.
Even when I have to write a simple letter I'm scared stiff as if faced with looming seasickness.
There is nothing that special to see when looking at me. I'm a painter who paints day in day out, from morning till evening - figure pictures and landscapes, more rarely portraits.
I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me -as an artist, the only notable thing- ought to look carefully at my pictures and try and see in them what I am and what I want to do.
Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist which alone is significant - they should look attentively at my pictures and there seek to recognise what I am and what I want.
I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject for a painting than I am in other people, above all women... There is nothing special about me. I am a painter who paints day after day from morning to night... Who ever wants to know something about me... ought to look carefully at my pictures.