Klimt's Studies for the Faculty Painting "Philosophy"

In 1894, Gustav Klimt and Franz Matsch were commissioned to decorate the ceiling of the University of Vienna's hall with allegories of the sciences. Klimt undertook "Philosophy," "Medicine," and "Jurisprudence". The intensive work on the three faculty paintings predominantly took place in the early years of the Secession, between 1897 and 1903.

"Philosophy" shows the mysterious vision of a humanity floating in the universe, left to its own fate. Here, nakedness becomes the elementary state of inner isolation and helplessness. As a draftsman, Klimt uncovered a radically modern approach to reproducing the human body.

Historicism echoes in this drawing of a female thinker in Greek clothing.

In this drawing, Klimt combines a merciless depiction of old age with an expression of despair over mortality.

In this figure of a man from behind who protects his family, the outline takes on a new role: it becomes a psychological boundary between the emotions of human beings and the surrounding emptiness.

These intertwined lovers refer to procreation as the origin of human life. The figure of the perched man from behind is a symbol of melancholy and meditation that was common for Klimt.

Klimt internalized the metaphysical state of limbo of his figures by depicting them in these studies without feet or support. These drawings take a key position in the modern depiction of human existence in "Vienna 1900".