Product Description
This unique and intimate treasure of a book captures the sensual pleasure of an artist’s sketchbook as well as the genius behind Klimt’s vision of women.

Throughout his career, Gustav Klimt completed hundreds of paintings and drawings of delicate beauty, many of them featuring the female form. Designed to imitate an artist’s sketchbook, this exquisite volume culls the artist’s most beautiful erotic sketches and watercolors. The experience of viewing it awakens the senses, while affording the reader the guilty pleasure of leafing through an artist’s most private visions. The stunning color reproductions, embossed cover and calf binding make this a perfect gift for lovers of art and for lovers everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Disappointed
I bought this book because I saw the exhibit at the Musee Maillot in Paris in 2005 and stupidly didn't buy their book of the drawings as I thought I could buy it here it here in the US. (Which isn't possible). This is an extremely disappointing pick of very few of his drawings, all of which were certainly not my favorites. There were so many which better demonstrated his skill in catching the expression, the sexuality and the beauty in very few lines I am surprised at all the inclusions and the exclusions. In my mind he picked the weaker drawings. And yes, they didn't even catch an obvious drawing inserted upside down, which unfortunately states a lot since there are so few of them.

Not worth the pretty binding and ribbons.
The presentation is great - I thought this would be a treat. Great binding, nice ribbon, and maybe this would make a good introduction to Klimt's erotic figure-work BUT . . .! There are only 56 drawings, most of them have been seen and reproduced in other books.An index gives specific information about the images but since the pages are unnumbered, good luck trying to match a drawing with its description.

The drawings are not in chronological order so you can't see Klimt's style change.The drawings are cut off and cropped sloppily and set on the page arbitrarily; some in the middle of the page, others shoved to the top or bottom for no particular reason. Actual image quality varies since the drawings are taken from a variety of sources; some look as if they were hastily run through Photoshop to clean them up. (But if you tell this was done, if you can SEE the digital manipulation, that doesn't say much, now does it?)Judging by the screen dots and other indicators some drawings show, a lot of these drawings were scanned from other books, run through a Photoshop-type of program to fill out the page - and not very diligently.I think the publishers were trying to be artistic.Or something. They've failed miserably.

Thames & Hudson did an Egon Schiele book a while ago that shows you CAN do this kind of thing well, at a great price and with tons of illustrations, not just 56.In April of 2006, they are going to release a Klimt book.Skip this feeble Prestel book and wait for the T&H book.

One last observation about the book at hand: the drawing on page 34 is badly placed at the bottom of the page . . . and is UPSIDE DOWN. ... Read more

Product Description
The alluring art of Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) has fascinated art lovers for decades. His decorative style, jewel-like colors, and sensuous line seduce the eye and the mind. Beneath the surface beauty exists a passionate commitment not only to the progress of painting, but to its relevance for society, which has made him one of Austria's greatest modern artists. Comini discusses his portraits, allegories, and landscapes as separate facets, tracing the development of each. Her text is illustrated with documentary photos of Klimt and his associates as well as with comparative works of other artists. 48 color illustrations, 94 black-and-white illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Beautiful book
Having been a student of Comini's at Southern Methodist University, I know too well her genius. This is a beatifully reproduced book with some very interesting insight. It includes a short written overview of Klimt, and an amazing 80 other images in color and black and white. I greatly recommend this book for any and all interested in reading the words of a great scholar and learning about the elusive Klimt.

Worst Klimt Book I Have Ever Purchased
If I could give it "zero" star rating, I would.Being an aficionado of Klimt, I may be as bold as to conclude that Comini's book is: a) expensive without offering any new angle/insight/pictures compared with the cheaper Taschen series; b) absent of any informative text (only a few pages in the form of a prologue); (c) colour-printing was very shoddily done.

This is the only book I had ever returned to Amazon...so save your time/postage and get instead books with really gorgeous and rare prints like Abrams' "Gustav Klimt" or Fischer's take on "Gustav Klimt and Emilie Floge". ... Read more

Product Description

Focusing on Gustav Klimt's famous mural, this book reveals the story behind the Beethoven Frieze and the role it played in Vienna's cultural heyday.

Created by Klimt for the XIV Exhibition of the Secession in 1902--also known as the Beethoven Exhibition--the Beethoven Frieze remains one of the most important examples of Vienna Art Nouveau, and one of the highlights of Klimt's career. Based on Richard Wagner's interpretation of Beethoven's ninth symphony, it displays Klimt's artistic opinions, passions and impressions. As a vehicle through which Klimt struggled to express the spiritual in terms of the visual, its elaborate decoration and frank eroticism reflect the debate between tradition and modernism that was raging in fin de siècle Vienna. In this book, more than 200 images in color and duotone offer close-up details of the frieze's panels and give an overall perspective of the grandiose work. Stephan Koja discusses the Beethoven exhibition as a collective work of art, while other essays describe the techniques Klimt used to create the frieze and those employed to preserve it, its place in Klimt's oeuvre, and its importance as a symbol of Vienna's artistic community.

Product Description
In June 2006, the Neue Galerie in New York purchased Gustav Klimt's 1907 Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I for $135 million. This deposed Picasso's Boy With a Pipe (sold May 2004 for $104 million) as the highest reported price ever paid for a piece of art sold at a public auction. However, Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was a controversial figure in his time. Far from being acknowledged as the representative artist of his age, he was the target of violent criticism - his work sometimes being displayed behind a screen to avoid corrupting the sensibilities of the young. Today, Klimt's works are recognized as masterpieces and stand out as some of the most significant paintings ever to come out of Vienna. The Byzantine luxuriance of form, the vivid juxtaposition of colours and the rich symbolism, sensuality and eroticism of his work have made Klimt one of the most popular artists in the world.Arranged thematically, the 130 reproductions of Klimt's most important work are accompanied by Rachel Barnes' expert and insightful commentary on all aspects of the artist's life, influences and paintings - from the inspiration and provenance of each painting, to the technique used to create it and a list of exhibitions. Featuring some of the most iconic, important (and valuable) artworks of the late 19th/early 20th centuries, such as the Judith I, Portrait of Adele-Bloch-Bauer I and II, and The Kiss, this is a book that Klimt enthusiasts and art lovers will cherish. ... Read more

Product Description
"Vienna, 1900": the heart of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire and a city populated with people from across the Imperial territories - stretching from central Europe to the Crown lands that reached far into South-eastern Europe. This was a dynamic capital brimming with economic and cultural prosperity; a centre that was fertile ground for the revolutionary artistic practices that emerged at the end of the nineteenth century and the backdrop to this fascinating new study. Gustav Klimt's election as the first President of the Secession Artists' Association in 1897, formalised the rejection of conservatism and heralded a celebration of the innovative and the modern. Alongside Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka have been championed as the key protagonists in the painting revolution that re-defined the traditional genres of portrait, landscape and allegory. However, this ignores the significant contribution made by Koloman Moser, whose painting is considered alongside that of Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka for the first time in this book.Highlighting a decisive moment in the birth of modernity and offering previously unpublished insight into the relationship of Klimt, Schiele, Moser and Kokoschka from 1890 to 1918, this book, with its wealth of stunning images, makes an invaluable contribution to Secessionist scholarship and as such is essential reading for anyone wishing to a seek fresh perspective on a fascinating period in the history of art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Most Amazing Collection of Images I have Ever Seen
I was actually *present* at the Grand Palais exhibit in Paris.

What you have here is possibly the greatest collection of light and color ever exhibited in the same book.I can't remember the names of the paintings specifically... but Klimt's work with whites and shadows is unparalleled and unrivaled in the history of painting.

Exceptional Book
This book is a real winner.The color plates are fantastic!They are large and well made.Really a good book if you're into collecting art books!

Klimt, Schiele, Moser, Kokoschka: Vienna 1900
The pictures & the grahics are very good. The writers do an incredible job of analyzing the Vienna Successionsists.This book was produced for an exhition at the Grand Palais in Paris that was jointly sponsored by the Presidents of the Republics of France (Jacques Chirac) and Austria (Heinz Fischer)and reflects the high levels sponsorship. Although it was published in late 2005, it does not reflect that the Austrian Galleries were required by the Courts to retun some of the paintings that were looted by the Nazis.I was fortunate enough to see Klimt's Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer in Los Angeles and the other returned paintings. The Block-Bauer portrait is now in NYC. After seeing it, I can understand why it received the highest price of any painting that has been sold.I urge you to see it in person. ... Read more

Product Description
Gustav Klimt, the celebrated painter of fin-de-siecle Vienna, produced portraits of society women, allegorical figure-compositions and sumptuous decorative schemes which evoke the exciting, decadent atmosphere of one of Europe's great cities before World War I. Vienna was being transformed - physically, socially and intellectually - by influential personalities such as Sigmund Freud, Robert Musil and Gustav Mahler, and Klimt was at the heart of its intense cultural life. In this book, an authority on 19th- and 20th-century German and Austrian art tells the story of Klimt's life, interspersing it with the observations of his contemporaries. Throughout, Klimt's own paintings, drawings and preliminary sketches are interwoven with photographs of his friends and subjects, and the social and artistic milieu in which he thrived. ... Read more

Product Description
A tribute to one of the greatest artists of the turn of the century, this is a collection of Klimt's most sumptuous work, accompanied by a text tracing his celebrated and controversial career. The book displays the full range of the artist's powers, and the scope of his achievement. ... Read more

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Features 12 big reproductions, a layout for the days of the month, and the official holidays for your country. ... Read more

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Famed for his decorative murals and posters, Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) founded the Vienna Secession, a group of painters who adopted the Art Nouveau style. Klimt cut a controversial figure in his day, drawing criticism for the sensual and erotic nature of his paintings; today his creations rank among Austria's art masterpieces. This striking collection of temporary tattoos features details from four of his finest works: The Kiss, Lady with a Fan, Water Serpent, and Expectation. Instructions.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Another Side of Klimt
Another museum companion to an exhibit, this time for the Tate Liverpool (already over, so don't go searching for cheap flights to London), Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life was a major exhibit for the Tate, and this book reflects much of the work that went into it. Klimt is still one of the most popular 20th Century artists, and his Adele Bloch-Bauer I painting sold in 2006 for $135 million, currently the highest price paid for a painting. Gustav Klimt focuses a great deal on Klimt's role in the Viennese Secession, a group of artists interested in innovation and encouraging artistic expression, regardless of the style. The essays extensively cover Klimt's life and the artwork created during various periods. There is also a chapter on his erotic paintings and drawings, along with the relationships he had with the women modeling for him. While not a coffee table book per se (its a soft-cover), Gustav Klimt is an excellent reference guide for fans of Klimt and the Art Nouveau movement.

Featuring 160 full-colored and 15 black and white photographs and images
Arts enthusiasts this book is for you! "Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life" is sure to please. Many may know of Gustav Klimt for his famous paintings but many know little about the artist who created them. Compiled and co-edited by Tobias G. Natter (Director of the Vorarlberg State Museum, Bregenz) and Christopher Gruenenberg (Director of Tate Liverpool), "Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life" brings the first thorough examination of the relationship between Klimt's paintings and mosaics and the work of architect Josef Hofmann who was a close friend to Klimt. Included are informed and informative essays by leading critics concentrating on key works and key moments. Of special note is an essay on Klimt's erotic works, particularly his drawings and the women he portrayed. An exploration of one of the most popular and influential artists of the 20th century, "Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life" has been published to accompany a major exhibition at Tate Liverpool, England. Featuring 160 full-colored and 15 black and white photographs and images, "Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life" is strongly recommended for private, academic, and community library Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
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