Klimt lived in Vienna during the Belle Epoque period, at the intersection of two centuries; it was a moment of artistic splendour and richness, one of the most fascinating periods in art history. In this city, that with its two million inhabitants was ranked fourth in Europe, culture prospered more than in any other place. Torn between reality and illusion, and tradition and modernity, artists and intellectuals developed an incredible creative strength.

Nevertheless, it may be better to define this flourishing creative activity as "an apocalyptic workshop," the final effort before the fall. Famous thinkers and musicians such as Sigmund Freud, Otto Wagner, Gustav Mahler, and Arnold Schönberg lived during this period. The dominant social class of the Bourgeoisie became the catalyst of this cultural exuberance, with its propensity to sumptuous parties and dinners, and its morbid need for pleasure. This "workshop" was also the cradle of Klimt's artistic esprit. He painted images full of life but always conscious of death; opposing tradition and modernity, he transposed into his works the final breath of a dying world and the announcement of a new age.

In front of Klimt's art, the observer is fascinated by the sensuality of his drawings with their kaleidoscopic geometry and beautiful decorative elements, and he tries to decipher the hidden secret of this enigmatic artist.

Introduction to "Gustav Klimt", Taschen Editions

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