Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) remains one of the most popular and influential artists of the 20th century. His ornate, sensual paintings, often charged with eroticism and embellished with gold, have been reproduced as bestselling posters, cards and book jackets, familiar to many who know little of the artist who created them. Published to accompany a major exhibition at Tate Liverpool, the first Klimt show in the UK and the highlight of that city's Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008, "Gustav Klimt" will explore the life and work of this unique and intriguing figure who was at the epicentre of the cultural renaissance that swept Vienna at the turn of the century.Central to the book will be the first thorough examination of the relationship between Klimt's paintings and mosaics and the work of architect Josef Hofmann, a close friend of the artist. This book will reach beyond the two-dimensional arts to examine the birth of an all-inclusive design culture in Vienna and examine fashion in clothing, jewellery, furniture and interior design.
Essays by leading critics will concentrate on key works and key moments, including the foundation of the Vienna Secession; the exhibition of The Beethoven Frieze, and the collaborations with architects and designers in creating total artistic environments such as the Palais Stoclet in Brussels. There will also be an essay on Klimt's erotic works, particularly his drawings, examining his relationship with the women he portrayed. Lavishly illustrated to capture the intensity of Klimt's palette, this will be a fittingly sumptuous tribute to the achievement of a unique artistic innovator.