Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian symbolist painter and a key figure in the Vienna Secession movement, known for his paintings, murals, and sketches. His primary focus was the female body, often marked by eroticism. Klimt also painted allegories, portraits, and landscapes, and was deeply influenced by Japanese art.

Initially successful as a conventional architectural decorator, Klimt's evolving style led to controversy, particularly after his 1900 murals for the University of Vienna were criticized as pornographic. He later stopped accepting public commissions and found success with his "golden phase," featuring works adorned with gold leaf. In 1888, Klimt received the Golden Order of Merit from Emperor Franz Josef I for his work on the Burgtheater murals and became an honorary member of the University of Munich and University of Vienna.