Klimt’s 150th Anniversary

Klimt’s 150th anniversary offers an opportunity to see the City of Vienna’s collection in its entirety for the first time, helping us to appreciate the sheer diversity of an artist at the threshold of the 19th to the 20th century. Especially the drawings – sketches for his major works as well as independent erotic sheets – allow a fascinating view from within of Klimt’s development and working methods: a close-up of an artist.

The exhibition, on display at the Wien Museum, starts with nude drawings and studies of children, created by Gustav Klimt during his time at the Wiener Kunstgewerbeschule (1876–1881) where he studied to become an arts teacher. During this time he was also commissioned to paint portraits from photographs, by means of which the young artist contributed to the family income.

There are two absolute masterpieces amongst the paintings, Pallas Athene and the portrait of Emilie Flöge, as well as a fascinating watercolour Interior view of the old Imperial and Royal Burgtheater, a commission from 1887/88 that brought the young aspiring painter public recognition. Most of all the collection comprises around 400 drawings, as well as rarities such as the scandalous poster, uncensored, of the first exhibition of the Secession, Klimt’s cloak that he wore when painting, precious prints, vintage prints of portrait photographs, the painter’s death mask as well as Egon Schiele’s drawing of Klimt on his death bed.

See more works by Klimt here

Dates: from May 16 to September 16.
Location: Wien Museum Karlsplatz, 1040 Vienna. Austria.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

Enjoy more works of the exhibition in the following slideshow: