Austrian artist Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) was considered as one of the most imaginative and contentious artists of the early 20th century. He was born in Vienna to Ernst, a struggling gold engraver, and Anna, a musically talented lady, which possibly made him genetically predisposed to the arts for which he showed remarkable talent from an early age. Klimt joined the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts on a full scholarship and after graduating in 1883, opened his own studio.

In this painting “Two Girls with Oleander” (1890 -1892) oil on canvas, measuring 55 cm x 128 cm, Klimit demonstrated his total mastery of painting and went beyond the narrow confines of historical reconstruction or photographic realism and started the stylistic decorations that would lead him to the full poetics of symbolism. The canvas is an intensely sensitively suggestive piece and one is drawn to the sophisticated and delicate clothing as well as their interest in the flowers. Three dominating elements in this artwork are warm amber and rose tones, delicacy of images and symbols, and balance. It is housed in a private collection.— E. J.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, December 13th, 2015