The Art of Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian painter born in 1862 and a figure in the Vienna Secession movement. He most well-known for his paintings of the female body, which during his time were often deemed to be obscene but don't come anywhere near that definition today.

Klimt liked to mix different styles in his paintings, often using realism when painting an actual person but then surrounding that figure with impressionism and other styles, including intricate but chaotic patterns. He also was known for using gold leaf in his paintings.

Klimt died in 1918, but his popularity has only risen since his death.

Today, Klimt paintings are among the most valuable in the world. The price on one Klimt that sold at auction in 2006 was $135 million. Many others would likely reach a similar or higher price if they were sold to the public.