Gustav Klimt

The History of Pattern 

As apart of Secondary Research for my project I will be looking at various Artists work for inspiration and to also gain an understanding about the use of patterns in early paintings. I will also be comparing the Artists I research and explain how I will be incorporating their ideas into some of my project work. 

The use of pattern allows colour, shape, symbolism, creativity, tradition, class and culture to shine through a piece of art work with the use of ornamental repetition alone and this is what interests me. The link between Patterns and Symbolism also fascinates me; this is why I have chosen Gustav Klimt to study as he was known to not only paint with the ornamental designs but they had meaning behind them. 

Gustav Klimt (1862–1918)

Gustav Klimt (1862 -1918) was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt was born in a country suburb near Vienna in 1862. He and his two brothers were introduced to art through their father’s profession, an engraver in Gold and Silver. In 1876, Klimt was awarded a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts, where he studied until 1883, and received training in a variety of media including Fresco painting and mosaic as an architectural painter.

During the Vienna Secession Klimt had developed his own characteristic style. Gustav Klimt's was said to have gone through a ‘Golden Period ‘where many of his paintings were painted with gold leaf. His style was highly ornamental and he used a lot of Gold and Silver in his art work. He travelled little, but trips to Venice and Ravenna, both famous for their beautiful mosaics, most likely inspired his gold technique and his Byzantine imagery.  

The Kiss  

‘The Kiss’ was painted in 1907-1908 by Gustav Klimt, during his ‘Golden period’, and is considered to be the most famous piece of art work he has ever produced.  The painting is painted with oil paint and gold leaf. Klimt’s ‘Golden period’ was perhaps the result of an influential insight to the world of art and craftsmanship from his father who was a Gold engraver. By observing ‘The kiss’ it is evident that Klimt’s exposure to Byzantine Frescoes mosaics of the churches of Ravenna and Japanese art were main inspirations that helped him to produce this painting.

In this painting Klimt was able to synthesize into powerful single images of simultaneous decorative and symbolic content and the Kiss is a perfect example that displays this. Here he uses various patterns, shapes and expressivity in this painting and the combination of all three is what interests me about this painting and  influences me to think about the representation and symbolism that he tries to portray in this particular painting.

Not only that but the bright use of colours mainly consisting of yellow, black and shimmering gold used to paint this is what attracts me also, the glittery gold background gives a sense of a gritty texture similar to granite on the ground in contrast to the possibly soft and smooth texture of the quilt the couple are wrapped in. I feel that these colours and contrast of textures go well together and makes the painting interesting and unique; this is why I included these elements in my final piece.

I particularly like the black rectangular shapes that add boldness to the painting and I have included this bold feature into my final piece making the shapes and patterns stand out. Klimt’s use of bold patterns, shapes and unique combination of colours are elements that inspired me to include them in my final piece.The composition of the painting makes the couple the main subject in the painting as they are placed in the center of the painting to represent that they are the main subject and the focus of attention in the image. 

Below are some more images of Klimt's work that involved the use of pattern I also find inspiring