Masters' Gallery: Klimt

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was one of the most unique artists of the 20th century, and in the works from his famous "Gold Period", also one of the most familiar. The text by Fernando Huici (translated from the Italian by Sarah Hilditch) is sometimes a little hard to follow, as he describes the philosophical trends of Klimt's era, a time marked by "a critical and turbulent Viennese landscape", with such personages as Schopenhauer, Freud, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. There are some choice photographs that include one of his companion of many years, Emile Floger, and her beauty was no doubt the model for many of his mythical pieces, as in his Judith I, and there is the well-known portrait of her shown, in lovely shades of blue, on page 45.The reproductions are wonderful, with excellent color, on fine glossy paper. Many are details, where one can see his brush strokes, and though he is primarily known for his figuratives, several are of his landscapes. The final plates are of works from 1917-1918 that are unfinished, but still magical. For those who have seen his work in person, or remember the scene from the film "Wings of the Dove" that takes place at a Klimt exhibit, know that his paintings are large and spectacular, and the good quality printing in this book gives one a taste of the majesty of his work.As any artist with a singular vision and a dedication to their art will echo, Klimt is quoted as saying "Whoever wants to know about me...should study my pictures with care", and Klimt's paintings speak volumes for this complex man, who loved women and nature, and painted both so well.