Expressionist period

During this period of artistic maturity, Klimt was influenced by his students and friends: Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. However, his artistic exploration was not restricted to them; it was also impacted in 1909 by the exciting discovery of works by Munch, Bonnard, Matisse, and Toulouse-Lautrec. These artists inspired him in his quest for artistic improvement and understanding, leading him to embark on an expressionist journey. One in which his colour palette developed significantly. Furthermore, Japanese art also left its mark on his work, which can be appreciated in details of his paintings such as birds, animals, and ethnic Asian figuress.

Throughout this phase, Freud’s influence on Klimt remained evident, especially regarding the notions of Eros and Thanatos. However, the eroticism and rawness that had characterized his artistic career began to soften piece by piece, culminating in Death and Life (1916), where the representation of death becomes more subtle, almost imperceptible to humanity.

Gustav Klimt died in 1918 from a stroke, though his health had already been compromised years earlier by a heart attack and pneumonia. In his final moments, he was accompanied by Emilie Flöge, his partner for many years, though not his only lover.