The Surprising Backstory Behind Gustav Klimt’s Obsession With Gold
by Katie White October 1, 2024 Share Share This Article
At the turn of the 20th century, the Viennese artist captivated public attention with his sinuous depictions of women (and occasionally men) which he adorned with copious amounts of gold leaf. These visions—which were sensual and often erotic, featuring glittering backgrounds—changed the course of 20th-century art.
Most famous among these was his masterpiece, The Kiss (1907–08) (called The Lovers by the artist), which depicts a man and woman embracing, their bodies dissolved into golden abstractions, in a moment of transcendence. It has become the icon of the artist’s celebrated “Golden Phase,” an era of work when ornamental gold leaf featured prominently across his canvases. Pallas Athene, from 1898, is considered the earliest work from this period, which the artist continued until 1909. In this painting, the Greek goddess Athena appears in golden armor with an imperious stare. With gold leaf applied to the background and her armor, the painting hints at the disembodied and majestic beauty of Klimt’s later works, while still hewing to his earlier realist style. Right now, this style-shifting painting is on view “Secessions: Klimt, Stuck, Liebermann on view at Wien Museums in Vienna, Austria, through October 13, 2024.
