Male Nude

This male nude study is one of the earliest known paintings by Gustav Klimt. It is a typical example of academic teaching. After Klimt had completed his training to become an art teacher between 1876 and 1879 at the Imperial Royal Arts and Crafts School in Vienna, he was accepted into Ferdinand Laufberger's decorative painting class on the recommendation of the school's director, Rudolf Eitelberger von Edelberg. Being accepted into this decorative painting class allowed Klimt to undergo academic training to become a historical painter on par with the historical painters at the renowned Academy of Fine Arts.