Gustav Klimt and the Women of Vienna’s Golden Age

Klimt was a central figure in the cultural life of Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, and provided a crucial link between nineteenth-century Symbolism and Modernism. His sensual portrayals of women are among his most celebrated works, as they embody the quintessence of fin-de-siècle Vienna.

Highlights of Gustav Klimt and the Women of Vienna’s Golden Age, 1900-1918 include some of Klimt's most important society portraits: Portrait of Serena Lederer (1899); Portrait of Gertrud Loew (1902); Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907); Portrait of Mäda Primavesi 1913; Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer (1914-16); and Portrait of Ria Munk III (1917). These major works cover the gamut of Klimt's portrait style, from his early ethereal works influenced by Symbolism and the Pre-Raphaelite movement to his so-called "golden style," as well as his almost Fauvist depictions.

These will be complemented by preparatory Klimt sketches, decorative arts from the Wiener Werkstätte. The artist and designer Han Feng, working in collaboration with paper artist Brett McCormack, will provide period-inspired dress for full-scale mannequins placed throughout the show. The designs are related to the work of Klimt's muse, the fashion designer Emilie Flöge.

Credit: Exhibition overview from the Neue Galerie website

Whether you go or not, the generously-illustrated exhibition catalog, Klimt and the Women of Vienna's Golden Age, 1900-1918, highlights Gustav Klimt’s portrayal of women in his work. His sensual portrayals of women are among his most celebrated works and the focus of this book. Klimt was a central figure in Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, and a crucial link between nineteenth-century Symbolism and Modernism. 

Also, The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is a truly fascinating read -- highly recommended.