This is a short informational video lecture about the classic impressionist painting ‘The Kiss’ by Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt (1862 – 1918).

The video pulls together strands of his background, his passion, his travels, and shows you how these inputs translate into his painting. It comes as no surprise that Klimt’s favorite subject to paint was women.

As a prominent member of the Vienna Art Nouveau movement, Gustav Klimt made major artistic contributions in paintings, murals, sketches and objects d’art. Many of his works can be found in the Vienna Secession gallery, as well as in museums around the world.

Further Reading

A rich survey of the life and work of one of the most intriguing artists of the twentieth century.

Published in conjunction with an exciting exhibition at the Neue Galerie New York, opening in autumn 2007, this beautifully produced book features more than one hundred color plates in a generous layout that allows close viewing of the artist’s paintings and drawings. Admirers of Klimt will discover fascinating essays by leading scholars, many containing new research and fresh insights. The essays’ subjects include Klimt’s earliest patrons; his studios; the role of photography in his erotic work; profiles of the most important women in the artist’s life; his relationship with Gustav Mahler and Auguste Rodin; his never-before-published 1917 notebook; and an interview by Neue Galerie director Renée Price with Maria Altmann, heir to the five paintings stolen by the Nazis that were recently returned to her by the Austrian government. Perfect for casual perusing or serious study, this lavish exploration of Klimt’s life and art, and the influence of Klimt on popular culture, is certain to find a wide audience.