“Whoever wants to know something about me, they should look attentively at my pictures and there seek to recognise what I am and what I want.”
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt was forceful, dramatic, unrepentant. His “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer” is arguably the most well-known thanks to the book and movie, “The Lady in Gold.”
Today, I am celebrating Gustav Klimt’s birthday with his paintings of two gardens: Kirche in Cassone (1913) and Avenue in the Park of Schloss Kammer (1912).
Gustav Klimt said that we could recognize him in his paintings. What better way to celebrate his birthday than visualizing him with a paintbrush in hand intent on capturing the essence of a garden.
ChasingART 
What a wonderful artist he was.. I’ve loved him since I was a teenager… how could a teenager resist a painting like The Kiss!!!
Back in the sixties when I used to read an art house magazine called Realitiee
I was outraged to read a long arty article denigrating Klimt as a mere decorator, not a great artist… and now the times have changed and the circle has been rounded, and I flew to Melbourne to see an exhibition of his work in the Victoria Art Gallery there…
I love your choice of these landscape nature pictures, a side of him we don’t see so often…love Valerie
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I can only imagine your outrage – a decorator – YIKES! Ah!! the artistic energy that came out of the Vienna Secession Movement. So much creativity and excitement. I find it interesting that Klimt was influenced by Japanese art. He certainly wasn’t afraid of controversy and generated drama wherever he went. I confess that I was unaware that Klimt was known for his landscape and nature paintings. Another confirmation that gardens bring out the best in all of us. Hugs and love coming back your way.
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Yes, so many of those artists of the time were influenced by the Japanese, weren’t they … Japonaise fabrics and china and art of that period I love… the exhibition I went to in Melbourne was about the Viennese Secession movement – and included jewellery, furniture and china … fascinating… one of my favourite art books on Klint covers his landscapes as well as his other works, and they are utterly beautiful,,, and have been over shadowed I feel by the glory of paintings like the Kiss, and his portraits … xxx
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I agree – the Kiss is elemental, speaks to the need for total involvement, passion, completion. You can feel the striking energy. I must look more into the Japanese influence and how it came about.
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What a delightful surprise to discover that I share the birth day of this special artist! Your post gave me an extra warm greeting just now as I signed on for a cyber session!
Hope that your summer is going well!
I’m wearing long sleeves today and am a bit chilled – lucky me to live where temps rarely go over 90 or below 60F. 🙂
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Happy Birthday!!! And what better place to celebrate than in your luscious and colourful garden surroundings. We are having a Vancouver “heat wave” – 27 degrees centigrade which about 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Interior British Columbia is much hotter. My goal this summer is to photograph as many urban gardens as possible. I’m looking in Vancouver’s Food Strategy which is designed to meet our city’s social, environmental, economic, and health goals. This is a HUGE vision, so I’m determined to participate. Even here there are food challenges. Thanks for stopping by – very much appreciated.
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What a delightful post! I would like to find a word adequate to describe the beauty of the two paintings you have included. Truly, more than outstanding! Thank you for your commentary, I learn so much from what you write. Thank you
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I am pleased that you enjoyed the two paintings of gardens. Gustav Klimt was a difficult man from what I’ve read. He was always in a debate of some sort based on his “personal style” which was the subject of much controversy. He was one of the founding members and president of the Vienna Secession, which was created to exhibit art created by unconventional young artists. I love his paintings of these gardens. And he has others…stay tuned…
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Zwei sehr schöne Motive, gefallen mir sehr!
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Wenn wir an Gustav Klimt denken, denken wir sofort an seine Porträts. Aber es gab so viel mehr, was er vollbrachte. Ich bin fasziniert von der Kunstbewegung der Wiener Sezession. Ich lerne weiter. Danke für deine Freundschaft. Alles Gute für dich und deine Familie.
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I am happy to join you in celebrating Gustav Klimt.
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So glad that you were able to “beam” on over. Isn’t is wonderful that “blogger miles” have magical properties of being at two places at once. Hugs.
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Captain Kirk would be envious! 😀
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Have a copy of The Kiss above our bed!
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A perfect location for this amazing artwork. I have a feeling Gustav Klimt would be very pleased! Hugs!
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Happy Birthday indeed to this wonderful artist – I love your two selections, especially the Kirche in Cassone – glorious!
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I am inspired to hug every gardening that I meet. Without gardeners, where would the gardens be!! Thanks for celebrating Klimt “in the garden.” Hugs!!
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