Portrait Of Eugenia Primavesi 1913

Gustav Klimt painted this portrait of Eugenia Primavesi using oil on canvas. Completed in Vienna, Klimt’s portrait acts as a mirror to the world of the Viennese upper middle class. The asymmetrical composition, the mosaic-like patterning, and the vibrant colour palette come from sources such as Byzantine art and the avant-garde movements. We can also read the social context of Vienna through the painting, and its negotiation of tradition and modernity. The Secession movement to which Klimt belonged challenged the conservative artistic establishment by embracing modern styles and ideas. Klimt was interested in exploring the psychological depth and emotional complexity of his subjects. What makes it more modern, I think, is the flattening of the picture plane and the emphasis on decorative elements. To understand the full meaning of a painting, resources such as letters, diaries, newspapers, and exhibition catalogs can help us put it into its social and institutional context.