Love Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)

Description of the painting "Love" by Gustav Klimt

A new period in Gustav Klimt’s oeuvre began in the early 1990s. At this time the artist felt a keen desire to go beyond the academic tradition, despite his popularity in the artistic circles of Viennese society.

In 1895, Klimt painted "Love". It is one of the works, which can be clearly seen a radical change of style to modernism. The influence of Impressionism and Symbolism can also be seen in the artist’s new style.

At first glance at the picture it is perceived as a picture of idealized happiness. Before us is a couple in love. The faces of the characters are somewhat blurred, but the artist reproduces them with almost photographic authenticity. Golden borders with tender roses around the frame add romantic mood to the composition. Upon closer inspection, however, we realize that the first impression was deceptive.

The author masterfully conveys the feelings and mood of the girl through the expression of her face. The heroine of his canvas is under the power of her infatuation. This is evidenced by her head thrown back, her posture and slightly open lips. The young man’s gaze is cold and suspicious. In the lilac-gray mist, we see several more female images - of a child, a woman and a gloomy old woman. Together, these images in the background do not evoke the most pleasant feelings, more they look like a depicted fragment of a bad dream. It is as if these three figures remind us of the fragility of human life, or perhaps they hint at the shortness of feelings.

In his work, Klimt not only depicted the beauty of love, but he also put into it the idea that feelings between people are inextricably linked to death as well, since everything beautiful in this world ends sooner or later.