Klimt Vienna Secession Analysis

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Gustav Klimt & The Vienna Secession In April 1897, The Vienna Secession began when some members of the Kunstlerhaus, the Viennese Creative Artists’ Association, resigned in a protest (Meggs, 2012, p. 235). Because of the refusal to allow foreign artist to exhibit in the Kunstlerhaus exhibitions, some artists felt the need to revolt. Gustav Klimt as the main man who lead the revolt, and the Vienna Secession became a countermovement to art nouveau that exceeded in other parts of Europe (Meggs, 2012, p. 235). The first Vienna Secession exhibition poster was a Western graphic design created in 1898 by Gustav Klimt and was an allegory to show the struggles between the Kunstlerhaus and the Vienna Secession (Meggs, 2012, p. 237). The work of art demonstrates …show more content…

The humans depicted in the design are inspired by Greek mythology and shoes Athena watching Theseus deliver the deathblow to the Minotaur. Klimt used Greek mythology to show the allegory between the Secession and Kunstlerhaus. Athena is shown holding a shield which represents Medusa, and forms a simultaneous profile and frontal image. The trees on the upper half of the design were later printed in because the Vienna police were outraged because of the male nudity of Theseus (Meggs, 2012, pp. 235,237). Gustav Klimt used multiple styles in his design. He used lines to create an ideal body image of Theseus and included characteristics of Greek sculptors to represent an athletic, nude man. The style is also representational because of the use of Greek mythology and using Athena, Theseus and Medusa as the human figures. Gustav Klimt was a part of the Vienna Secession art movement. Not only was he just a part of the Vienna Secession art movement, but he was the cofounder and the president. The goal of the Vienna Secession was to exhibit foreign artworks in Vienna, and to provide exhibitions for young unconventional artists (Moffat, 2008). The Vienna Secession was the most influential breakaway on conservative art across Europe and was big to promote its own ideas. (Encyclopedia of Art History, n.d.). Gustav Klimt was native to Austria and worked on his art

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