Gustav Klimt was an Austrian painter born in 1862, known for his distinctive art nouveau style characterized by organic ornamentation and a focus on the female body. His famous works include portraits such as 'Adele Bloch-Bauer I,' which sold for a record $135 million in 2006. Klimt's techniques involved a combination of classical elements with vibrant colors and gold leaf, making his artwork highly recognizable.

1. Gustav KlimtGustav Klimt
art nouveau, Free-form shapes
and Geometric Shapes

3. • Gustav Klimt was
born in Austria to a
poor, immigrant gold
engraver.
• Klimt’s brother
became a gold
engraver like his
father and Klimt
began his career
paintings murals and
ceilings in buildings.
Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918)

4. Art NouveauArt Nouveau
• He develop his style
of ornamentation
throughout his life and
it would become
increasingly organic
looking, in the
Art Nouveau style.

5. • Klimt was very
interested in the
human body,
particularly the female
body.
• His technique was
fairly classical, but his
subjects were often
criticized.

6. Fulfillment
• The use of
ornamentation in his
work was apparent.
He used a variety of
colors (often mixed
with gold leaf) and
abstract figures,
which made his
artwork very
distinctive.

7. • The Kiss

10. Adele Bloch-Bauer I (c.1907)
• Of all the many women Klimt
painted from life, Adele Bloch-
Bauer, the wife of a Viennese
banker was the only woman to
sit for him more than once.
This, the first of the two
portraits, is considered by
many to be his finest work.
The sitter is adorned with
precious materials and ancient
artifacts, suggesting her wealth
and power; but her stare, and
her grasping hands, also
suggest that she is fragile.
• Klimt gives over almost every
space on the canvas to
ornament, and leaves only the
woman's hands and upper
body to describe her
appearance.

11. • One final interesting
fact about Klimt is that
his portrait of Adele
Bloch-Bauer (shown
right) sold in 2006 at
auction for more
money than any other
painting ever had
before: $135 million

12. Your Assignment
• Create your own
Klimt
• Include both free-form
shapes and
Geometric shapes

13. Examples

14. Printable Handouts