Filled with swirling patterns in jewel tones and gold, Gustav Klimt`s glamorous paintings of women epitomise the Austrian Art Nouveau movement known as the Vienna Secession. One of its cofounders, Klimt produced works of startling power, symbolism, and eroticism. Portraits of women from Vienna`s social elite would come to dominate his career, but he also produced daring landscapes and other delightfully abstract scenes, culminating in what came to be known as his Golden Phase when he used gold leaf in many of his paintings. The artworks shown here trace Klimt`s growth from adept painter to confident master.
