Gustav Klimt — Works and Gallery of Paintings Created Between 1899 and 1918

Gustav Klimt — the master of ornament and the golden style, a Modernist painter known for his decorative compositions, portraits of women and symbolic works. His painting combines sensual forms, decorative relief and golden radiance, creating a unique “golden style”. Klimt’s artistic world is filled with luxury, intimacy and the aesthetics of Viennese Modernism of the early 20th century.

Klimt believed that art is inherently erotic — a conviction that often brought him trouble. Shortly before creating “The Kiss”, he painted three works for the University of Vienna, choosing allegorical images of naked women to represent philosophy, medicine and jurisprudence. These works caused a major scandal and were declared pornographic. Society was outraged because the eccentric artist dared to depict pubic hair.

Frightened, Klimt asked a wealthy patron to help buy back the works. They have not survived: during World War II they were destroyed by the Nazis. The incident shook the artist’s confidence.

Either I am already old, or terribly nervous, or simply too foolish — something must be wrong.

According to one version, the restraint of “The Kiss” is explained by Klimt’s anxiety after the scandal surrounding the University of Vienna paintings.

For this publication, we selected 40 iconic works by Klimt created between 1899 and 1918 for several reasons:

• This period reflects the peak of the “golden style” and his most outstanding decorative works.
• It includes the most famous female portraits and symbolic compositions that defined his recognition.
• Klimt’s paintings are rare and in high demand at international auctions, attracting collectors of Modernist art.

The gallery presents the most iconic works of Gustav Klimt — from early symbolic paintings to his renowned “golden” portraits. The canvases are arranged chronologically, allowing viewers to trace the evolution of his style and decorative mastery.

Gustav Klimt – After the rain

1899, 80 × 40 cm

Gustav Klimt – Kammer castle on lake Attersee

1899, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – On lake Attersee

1900, 80 × 80 cm

Gustav Klimt – Fruit trees

1901, 90 × 90 cm

Gustav Klimt – Rosebushes under the trees

1901, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Beech grove

1902, 100 × 100 cm

Gustav Klimt – Goldfische

1902, 181 × 67 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Emilie Flöge

1902, 178 × 80 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Marie Henneberg

1902, 149 × 140 cm

Gustav Klimt – Pear tree

1903, 101 × 101 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Hermine Gallia

1904, 170 × 96 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Margaret Stonborough Wittgenstein

1905, 180 × 90 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Fritza Riedle

1906, 153 × 133 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

1907, 138 × 138 cm

Gustav Klimt – Danae

1908, 77 × 83 cm

Gustav Klimt – Hope

1908, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Schloss Kammer am Attersee

1909, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – The kiss

1909, 180 × 180 cm

Gustav Klimt – Farm house in Upper Austria

1910, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Pond at Schloss Kammer

1910, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

1912, 190 × 120 cm

Gustav Klimt – Farm garden with sunflowers

1912, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Mada Primavesi

1912, 149 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Avenue in Schloss Kammer park

1912, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Landscape with cypresses

1913, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Eugenia Primavesi

1913, 140 × 85 cm

Gustav Klimt – Landhaus am Attersee

1914, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Unterach on Attersee

1915, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Houses in Unternach on the Attersee

1916, 110 × 110 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of a lady

1917, 60 × 55 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Johanna Staude

1918, 70 × 50 cm

Gustav Klimt – Die Tänzerin

1918, 180 × 90 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Amalie Zuckerkandl

1918, 128 × 128 cm

Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Ria Munk

1918, 180 × 90 cm

Gustav Klimt had a tremendous influence on Viennese Modernism, decorative art and Symbolism. His participation in the Vienna Secession and exhibitions across Europe secured his position as one of the leading artists of the Modernist era. Golden motifs, ornamentation and intimate female portraits make his work instantly recognizable and highly valued.

Anatoli Gostev admired not so much Klimt’s painting technique as his color palette and the idea of stylistic combinatorics.
Here is what he once said:

Klimt was smart enough to come up with something new — to cook a seemingly absurd soup from the behinds of Renoir, the brushstrokes of Van Gogh, and jeweler-like ornaments. With a seasoning of bedroom memories — and the result is stunning. Yet there is no life in them. It is an Austro-Hungarian, German trait — magnificent, but soulless mechanics.

- Anatoli Gostev (1946 - 2022)