4. In 1894 Klimt was hired to make 3 paintings for the ceiling of the Great Hall for the University of Vienna. When he was done, everyone was shocked- it was overtly sexual and deemed pornographic, LOL. It was later destroyed by Nazis. Stupid Nazis! Anyhoo, the public outrcy from these paintings really cheesed Klimts toast. He decided that public works were for suckers and made this painting on the left “Nuda Verita” (nude truth? In Latin) above the figure is an inscription- a quote by Schiller (German poet/ philosopher) translated to: "If you cannot please everyone with your deeds and your art, please a few. To please many is bad.” After this, he middle-fingered everyone and painted how he wanted to paint- like a hermit w/ lots of gold leaf. Nuda Veritas Hope II Oil, gold and platinum on Canvas 110.5x110.5 Museum of Modern Art, NY
5. Our covergirl… Kathe Kollwitz began drawing and painting laborers at the tender age of 12. She sympathized with the blue collar class and did many etchings filled with tired, filthy, ugly and stupid workers. She died in 1945 but I’m pretty sure she would have been a big fan of the ROCKY series. Her main theme though was death and war. What a bummer this gal was- but for pretty good reason. When she was a kid she suffered from anxiety after her brother died. Later in life her son died in WWI, later her husband died, then 2 years after that her son died in WWII. Note her lack of “happy little squirrels” in the etchings. Not Bob Ross’s cup of tea I’d guess… March of the Weavers (1898) Etching w/ Aquatint and Sandpaper 11.5x8.8”
6. Not only a prolific “Ghostbuster”, Schiele’s methods of expression came from a more classical sense. Egon was enrolled in a very academic art school, which means that it was all about traditional art work and technical execution. Though he dropped out and helped to form a group of artists as a reactionary group to this style of teaching, the schools influence is inherent in subject matter. Almost all of Schiele’s pieces are very traditional in this regard- self portraits, nudes and the smattering of landscapes here and there. The real expression comes with the grotesque elongations and musculature, the loosy goosey brushwork, the poses and facial expressions. Self-Portrait Nude Ink on Paper Standing Male Nude With Red Loincloth Ink on Paper
7. Death and the Maiden, 1915 Oil on Canvas 150,5 × 180 cm So Egon was dating this chick for awhile right? Her name was Wally and she was introduced to him by G. Klimt (she used to model for him too- see the ginger in slide 4.) They lived together and were mutually hated everywhere they went due to the fact that they’d often get local teens from the town to model for them in what were considered erotic and HIGHLY inappropriate positions. He was highly saddened when Wally left him for MARRYING THEIR NEIGHBOR. Women! Sheesh! This painting on the left was done shortly after. Woman in Black Stockings Junk shot!