Vienna Klimt Trip-Day 3
Day 3 of the Vienna trip for everything Klimt! (Apart from his grave which I missed).
If you have not read my Day 1 and Day 2 you should!
On day 3 we visited Wein and Albertina Museum.
First let me give you the list of the must see museums for Klimt that I went with the admission price in 2024:
Secession €12
Belvedere €21.5
Leopold Museum €17
Klimt Villa €10
Wein Museum €12? Not sure as we had a free entry because it was the first Monday of the month;)
Albertina €21.5
Do bare in mind that we only had 3 days there and with a 3 year old meant I had to really chase Klimts paintings all around!
Wein Museum
Probably the highlight of the Wein Museum in terms of Klimt fan for me was seeing this painting called Pallas Athena in 1898. Its basically a painting of goddess of Wisdom and art, Athena. This was a painting to declare war on the forces of conservatism.
This painting of Pallas Athena is so intricately painted with gold leaf and the painting itself is so dark that the gold really shines. I loved the contrast.
The next paitning is Portrait of Emilie Floge in 1902 who was his most important woman in his life who was his lover and later a close friend. It was also his first time painting the clothing in abstraction.
The 4th painting his titled Nuda Veritas in 1899. This painting was hung in Hermann Bahr a writer and chronicler of the Vienna Secession. Again look at those colors in the skin!!!
Belive it or not, Klimt painted landscapes. And me being a huge lover of the color malachite, this painting title On Lake Attersee in 1900 is beautiful. I can see that he had painted the white of the lake first and then worked on the malachite color paint strokes later.
And finally this poster of the secession! Darn wish I can have it!!!!
These are all non Klimt paintings I stumbled by in the Wein museum that caught my eye.
Painting 1,2,3- Round Dance/ Dance 1895 by Ferdinand Schmutzer. I love his use of delicate whites and the almost transparent look of the cupids wings here. Also look at that cupid behind the flowers!
Painting 4- Lady in Yellow 1899 by Max Kurzweil. I never quite used yellow in my painting but this painting just made me stop. Maybe its the composition how shes almost like a moth in shape and very confident. Apparently he was a member of the Vienna Secession and like Klimt he was a leading portrait painter of the time. This is his wife Martha that he painted and it attracted a great deal of attention around 1900.
Painting 5,6- Forest Lake- Bathing Woman 1896/97 by Josef Engelhart. I just loved the contrast of light and dark but when you look close the brushtrokes are so visible it looks nothing like what its suppose to look like. Marvelous.
Painting 7,8- Finally again Sissy, Queen Elisabeth of Austria. Shes soooo cute! AND look at those intricately painted laces.
I think im going to start the era of laces and transparency from here on….
I dont recall exactly where these were but happened to walk by and see glimpses of what Klimt was inspired by. His use of flowers in his work, the text format that I seen in the city, and golden sun in the city in summer! (AND we got to see the spanish horse school white horses!
Josefstädter Straße 21- Klimts residence before Klimt Villa
I wanted to go see where he lived during 1892-1911 that he had to leave because they were tearing down the building. I know this isnt the building that he actually lived but the theater across from here was there when he was around and its nice to see the area where he once lived. I did check whether he might still be around though…
I came across a building with demons all over that reminded me of his work.
Albertina Museum
Entrance at Albertina Museum
So next we went to Albertina. They special exhibition that was on was Picasso-Monet. Was a must for me!
I bet you can tell who. Inspiring Monet Claude. The water lily pond painted 1917-1919. Look at his use of rich greens/yellows with purples. And those close up strokes.
Painting 1,2,3- By Theo Van Rysselberghe titled Seated Nude in 1905. Again, the use of vibrant colors on skin but still being able to give clue for where the light is hitting and the shadows is exceptional.
Painting 4- Of course I had to take a photo of Picassos Blue period that I admire. Titled Sleeping Drinker back in 1902. Im just a huge lover of color blue I suppose….
Painting 5,6- Same lake concept but so different from Monet is Gustav Klimts Mermaids painted in 1899. I love that he takes you deep under the lake where its dark and almost green with subtle gold leaf in certain areas.
Except for the last one, these are photographs by Gregory Crewdson. They had a strange feeling to them. One that you question if its real, but one that is quite realistic and has a dark story to tell and definitely has that U.S.A vibes. It made me question whether moving to the U.S was a good idea and my partner replied “its exactly the reason to go because look how different creativity people from there have”. OK, I suppose….lol
The last one is quite random but that was at the museum that I quite liked and connected me to Klimts artwork. No mention of the artist or the photographer.
Finally the best artist I stumbled in this museum was Eva Beresin. Shes a hungarian artist that paints artwork that is between beauty and horror. I just love these two juxtapositions in play in artwork.
Painting 1- Thick Air 2021
Painting 2- Family Constellation Therapy 2022
Painting 3-The Non-programmed Decision 2023
Painting 4- That which does not belong 2022
Painting 5- Absorbed by Digestion 2023
Painting 6- Fear Creates Its Own Logic 2023
I love them all but especiall the 4th one with the idea of creating different panels to make up one whole painting.
Finally this painting is my favorite out of hers. My fading trust in transparency 2024. Again it must be my urge in playing with transparency. Also the use of the grids is so clever. She basically painted the grids first very lightly on linen canvas and then went in with the blues. Im taking this for my future paintings.
Thats all on my Vienna trip!
HIghly recommend for any art enthusiasts and Klimt fans!!!!
