Vienna Secession: the Artistic Movement and Gustav Klimt

 The Vienna Secession was formed by a group of artists that did not like the trend of historicism that was prevalent in Austria at the time (c. 1897)  The joined together and built the building known as Secession Gebaude for exhibitions.  This building is an architectural beauty.  The movement was fairly diffuse but it followed along with the arts & crafts movement.   When I look at this building I can see elements  of both the then current Art Nouveau movement (called Jungendstil in German) and the Art Deco movement that would follow much later.  The architect was Josef Maria Olbrich and it houses a huge frieze by Gustav Klimt, a founder of the Secession.  We did not go in, but may go back to see the Klimt frieze.  

We did go to the Oberes Belvedere which houses Klimts renowned painting the Kiss.  It was interesting to see some of his other works and how he incorporated aspects of them into the Kiss.  The biggest problem with the Kiss is over exposure.  You see so many prints of it everywhere it dilutes the impact.  We also saw his painting of Judith and the Head of Holofernes.  The story is found in the Book of Judith (apocrypha).  Judith (meaning Jewish woman) ingratiates herself to the Holofernes, general of the Assyrian army, who plans to attack and destroy her people.  One night he gets very, very drunk and passes out.  Judith prays to god for strength, and cuts off Holofernes head.  When she returns to her people, the sight of his head emboldens them and they attack and the Assyrians are routed.  In Klimt's picture Judith looks absolutely orgasmic after cutting off Holofernes head.  Enough said