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Gustav Klimt
(1862-1918), the fin de siècle Viennese art nouveau
painter and illustrator, was the son of a gold engraver. In
1894, Klimt gained recognition when he was commissioned to
create three ceiling murals for the University of Vienna,
Philosophy (1900), Medicine (1901) and
Jurisprudence (1902). However, his composition studies were
regarded as too radical and pornographic and the murals were
never displayed. Klimt is also known for being the cofounder of
the Vienna Secession movement (Wiener Sezession) which
furthered his eclectic synthesis of classicism, realism and
symbolism.
Love and death, Eros and Thanatos, are dominant themes in
Klimt’s paintings. His stylish women display elegant gold
decorations and erotic shapes which then dissolve into Byzantine
mosaic abstractions. Klimt's paintings have brought some of the
highest prices for individual works of art.
The image shows a robot-assisted surgery to remove a tumor
beneath the tongue. The goggles define a human head which then
dissolves into a maze of gold and blue mosaic streaks of plastic
drapes and robotic arms. (2010)
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