Gustav Klimt

This was the main reason for our visit, as we wanted to see The Kiss in real life. The Upper Belvedere holds the world's largest collection of paintings by Gustav Klimt. This is the best place to understand the evolution of his career since the paintings include every stage of his career.

Schloss Kammer on Lake Attersee III and Cottage Garden with Sunflowers

Avenue to Schloss Kammer (1912)

Flowering Poppies

Amalie Zuckerkandl (1913)

The Bride (1918 unfinished)

Adam and Eve (1916-1918)

Fritza Riedler (1906)

Woman in White (1917-1918)

Sonja Knips (1897-1898)

Judith (1901)

Portrait of MarieBreunig (1894)

The Kiss (1907-1909)

"The Kiss, probably Klimt's most famous work, was painted at the height of his Golden Period without a commission. It shows a couple, melting into one, at the edge of a meadow of flowers. Only the difference patterning of the robes distinguishes their bodies that are enveloped in a shimmering golden halo .Klimt actually used real gold leaf ,silver and platinum in his picture. He presumably started work on it in 1907..." (taken from the write up in the museum)