Know the Artist: Gustav Klimt

Between his monumental body of work and promiscuous personal life, Gustav Klimt (b. Baumgarten, Austria, 1862-1918) is an enduring subject of fascination. His risqué figure drawings upended the traditional sensibilities of late 19th/early 20th century Vienna, and rendered the Austrian artist something of a controversial hero.
Several Circles is comprised of two loved up art professionals (and their cat, Jimmy) living and working in New York. Here, we tell the stories of extraordinary artists from history and the contemporary day. Written and hosted by Rachel, an art writer and editor. Produced by Jason, a gallery operations director.

[@lenny108]

In the middle ages, it was known that famous painters were often poisoned when they were invited to festival events or village parties. It was therefore a firm rule that painters never took any food or drinks when they were outside their home. Gustav Klimt's sudden death also raises questions. He died far too early and was unexpectedly torn from life. Unfinished paintings standing on the easel ... Usually sensitive people feel when life is coming to an end and make preparations. Or there is a serious illness. Klimt was in good health and in the middle of life. Of course, at that time there was no way to detect poison when someone had died mysteriously. The city at that time also did not figure that Klimt is a venerable resident of Vienna. He got a ridiculously simple grave in a working-class district. Important people of Vienna got a grave of honor at the Vienna Central Cemetery. When it comes to making money with Klimt's art the people of Vienna speak of great veneration about the artist.

[@pr1me840]

Thank you for the hard work.

[@ericwayne8185]

Wonderful how much you can pack into a short video! Despite how over-represented "The Kiss" is, it struck me afresh as marvelous. Klimt really understood beauty -- the mos essential and maligned quality of art -- a could craft an absolutely delicious canvas. Who thought you could combine gold metal with leafy greens to realize such a sumptuous vision?!

[@litaciasophia9248]

Great videos! 🤩 Thank you for producing them, they are a great way to get an overview of an artists oeuvre! Greetings from Vienna!

[@TheArtTourist]

So glad you like them! More to come :)

[@openmikesmith]

I love your channel. I'm an artist trying to work my way out of a ten-year slump, and your videos are a sound reminder of art's necessary place in society. Keep up the good work.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for the kind words! Totally empathize with the slump. Connecting with these exceptional people from history definitely helps ignite that elusive spark ✨

[@dougg1075]

Odd that me and a friend were talking about him the other day then this. Synchronicity

[@robertmather6152]

Very informative and extremely well presented. Thank you

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!

[@DiamondProofSector]

Enjoyable and enlightening as always! Hoping to get into the Neue Galerie next time I'm in NY to see the Bloch-Bauer portrait. It's a pity some of the other works like the law/medicine/philosophy University paintings didn't survive WWII, would have been awesome to see them in color.

[@TheArtTourist]

Yes! I’m so looking forward to paying Adele a visit soon too :) And absolutely, it’s a shame to see all the archival images of his lost works. Luckily, he was immensely prolific and left us with lots to gaze at!

[@rumpleforeskin3528]

Has this lady ever had a painting done of her by an artist, because then maybe… in the future… another 2 century’s from now there will be another art channel on their platforms talking about the painting of her. And it’ll be like inception but with art history vids

[@dougg1075]

Yeah he’s pretty amazing.

[@cassa.N0VA]

I loved watching your video! Succinct and informative. I stumbled onto your channel recently, so I am not sure if you do this in more recent videos, but do you have a place where you compile the research sources you used in your videos? As an art student I think it would be helpful to read further :)

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much. We haven’t done this yet but if our channel grows we may consider it!

[@cassa.N0VA]

@@TheArtTourist That would be lovely. It helps when trying to find topics for further research haha

[@michaelbenenson]

Again, wonderfully comprehensive. I take it (I ask) that the formula one speed of delivery is to pack in as much as poss given a limited time slot? Is it poss - purely a hunch - that G.Klimt was influenced by Faberge too - various designs come to mind - or was that just a matter of osmosis? Anyway, big ta - one addict more to your audience!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you! We’ve definitely aimed to mellow our pace in more recent videos. We initially tried to follow the rapid vlog format but realized thanks to viewer feedback that it wasn’t entirely appropriate for art, which should be relatively calm. As for Klimt drawing inspiration from Faberge, that’s a great observation that’s never occurred to me! They became popular at around the same time and it’s entirely possible that Klimt aimed to paint with the same golden delicacy that made Faberge famous. Will have to investigate further!

[@michaelbenenson]

@@TheArtTourist Moi aussi. Thank you for your reply. Here's to manyu more of your programmes. M.B.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Oh, Rachel...who will do your portrait?

[@ViRrOorR]

whats the name of the woman in the water art by hans makart?

[@Eskapismus]

It's Ophelia by John Everett Millais

[@martagiorgis8301]

Traducir por favor

[@radiobob1908]

Isn't Katze German for "cat?" Did Klimt really name his cat "cat?"

[@hima-namakishimam]

シーレは日本語字幕があったのに、なぜクリムトはないのか

[@chalkvisions]

Love the video but you are talking about twice as fast as you could be. Take a breath, savor the words a bit

[@TheArtTourist]

We resolved our teleprompter speed issues a while back.

[@edwardpritchardpemberton4998]

I'm waiting for the "femi-nazi/future cat ladies" to get on here and trash him.