ZenART's Membership Plans Terms & Conditions

(Updates effective 17/08/2020)

These terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) govern the ZenART Supplies Rewards & Referral Plan as well as Subscribe & Save Plan (“Membership Plans”), and members of the programs will earn zen coins in connection with the purchase of qualifying online products and online activities that are redeemable towards the purchase of certain products online. For the re-occurring members (Subscribe & Save Plan) this includes exclusive gifts & content.

1. REWARDS & REFERRAL

  • Free. No purchase is necessary to obtain membership in the Rewards & Referral Program, but you must establish an account at https://shop.zenartsupplies.co/account/register . Please see our privacy policy, located here, to understand how information you provide us will be used. This program is void where prohibited.
  • Eligibility. In order to be eligible for the Rewards & Referral Program, you must create an account as outlined in these Terms and Conditions. You may create an account if you are at least seventeen (17) years of age, have Internet access, and have a valid mailing address. If you are between the ages of 17 and 18, you must have your parent’s permission to register for an account. If you choose to create an account, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account, username and password and for restricting access to your account. You are responsible for keeping such information current, complete, accurate and truthful. You agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account, username and/or password. You agree to provide only current, complete, accurate and truthful information. If you are accessing and using the Site on someone else’s behalf, you represent that you have the authority to bind that person as the principal to all Terms and Conditions provided herein, and to the extent you do not have such authority you agree to be bound to these Terms and Conditions and to accept liability for harm caused by any wrongful use of the Site or Content resulting from such access or use. You may only have one member account per natural person. Persons who are discovered to have more than one account forfeit their zen coins and will be unsubscribed from the Loyalty Program.
  • How To Enroll in the Rewards & Referral Program. (a) Create an account: Visit www.zenartsupplies.com (the "Site" or "Online") and become a registered user of the Site. Click here to be taken directly to the registration page. You will be asked for your first and last name, your email address, and a password. You will also be given the option to sign up for our newsletter. Once you have submitted the requisite information, you will be sent an email to the address you listed confirming your membership. Once you have confirmed your email address, you are automatically enrolled in the Reward & Referral Program and are a member (“Member”).
  • How to Access/Change Your Member Information. You must keep your personal information on your Account up-to-date. To do so, click on the "My Account" section and access your account by entering your registered email address and current password. From your dashboard you can access your account information; review your current and past orders; change your profile; manage your subscriptions and applications, and access your previous purchases.
  • How to Cancel Your Membership. You may cancel an account at any time. To cancel your account, please send an email to support@zenartsupplies.co and write “cancel membership” in the subject line. The email must come from the account currently listed on our servers as being associated with your Rewards & Referral Program. If you no longer have access to that email address, please email our customer service department and we will verify your status and cancel your account. Upon cancellation, you are no longer a member, and any unused zen coins accrued in your account will be forfeited and cannot be redeemed. Zen coins maintain their value only on valid accounts in good standing, and except as otherwise provided here for redemption, have no cash value outside of their redemption value on the Site.

2. EARNING ZEN COINS

  • General Members can earn zen coins on the purchase of qualifying online products at zenartsupplies.co. To receive zen coins for your Online purchases, you must be signed into your account. You may check at any time to see if you are signed in to the Site by looking in the upper right-hand corner of the site. Gift cards do not qualify for zen coins. Other products that do not qualify for zen coins are noted on the Site.
  • Earning Rate. Members earn 5 sen coins for every $1.00 spent on qualifying purchases (in other words, one (5) zen coins for every one dollar ($1) spent). Zen coins are based on your order subtotal, after any discounts, only. Zen coins are rounded down to the nearest whole number. For example, if you spend $9.99, you will receive 9 zen coins. The calculation is as follows: $9.99 x 1 zen coins per dollar = 9.99 zen coins, which is rounded down to 9 zen coins. This program started on August 17, 2020, and initial levels were set on the 2020 amount spent on ordering products. Note: Shipping and Taxes are not taken into consideration. If an item is return and/or price adjusted that will also be removed from your rewards calculations.
  • Gift Cards. Gift card purchases are not eligible to receive zen coins. However, once a gift card is redeemed, zen coins will be awarded to the recipient for the subtotal after any gift card values, provided s/he is logged into the account, as outlined in these Terms and Conditions.
  • Addition of Zen Coins to Accounts. Zen Coins will be added to your Account under the following conditions, and will generally show up immediately. You will receive zen coins:
    • At the time of account registration
    • During the purchase of qualifying products
    • For other activities outlined on the Site that may show up from time to time. Note that for these other activities, including “bonus zen coins” accumulations and other zen coin promotions, zen coins may show as “pending,” depending upon the activity.
    • Joining the Birthday Club. Birthdate must be entered 30 days before your Birthday to qualify.
    • For Liking the ZenART Supplies Facebook page and sharing the ZenART Supplies Facebook page with your following. This is good one time only.
    • Following ZenART Supplies on Instagram. This is good one time only.
    • Referring a friend to ZenART Supplies. Your account will be automatically awarded the discount only if the referral friend used the link sent to them from your referral account and makes a qualifying purchase. Discount will automatically be applied to account if stipulations are met.
  • Exclusions. Members earn zen coins only on the purchase price of: (i) qualifying online products. Calculation of zen coins excludes payment by the Member for shipping charges and all taxes, including without limitation, federal, state, and local taxes or use taxes. Zen Coins will not be earned on any discounts or other credits offered in connection with a product or service. For example, if a product that is normally $50 is on sale for $25, a Member will only earn zen coins on the purchase price of $25. Purchases of gift cards, redemption of vouchers, and any type of price adjustments, including merchandise returns, are not eligible for zen coins. All purchases made: (i) by a Member prior to such member joining the Program, (ii) Online without a Member being logged onto the Website with the Member's Account number linked to the Member's Online account, are not eligible for Reward & Referral Program credit. The purchase of ZenART Supplies products outside the Zenartsupplies.co website are not eligible for the Reward & Referral Program.
  • Returns/Order Cancellations. Zen Coins earned for a purchase that is then the subject of a return, cancellation, refund, declined credit card or gift card, or other credit will be deducted from your account in an amount equal to the zen coins earned for the original transaction, including any bonus zen coins that may be applicable. Any rewards discounts that are applied to the order, will be distributed equally to the applicable items in the order when completing a return. Zen Coins redeemed on an order will not be reapplied back to your rewards account for any reason on a returned order. If a return/cancellation will cause your account to have a negative zen coin balance, you will not begin earning zen coins again until your zen coins balance is returned to zero (0), by making purchases, or engaging in other promotional activities offered from time to time. If an item is exchanged (different product) any redeemed rewards on the initial purchase may be transferred to the exchange one (1) time only. Rewards used on an order that is canceled cannot be reapplied as they are good for just one use.
  • Bonus Zen Coins Promotions. From time to time, ZenART Supplies may run certain bonus zen coin promotions. Under bonus zen coin promotions, Members can earn additional or "bonus zen coins" in connection with the purchase of certain online products. When you purchase these specially marked products or make the purchase during a bonus zen coins time period, you will earn bonus zen coins on each product, as specified in the offer. Bonus zen coin promotions are subject to the terms and conditions of the offer and may be offered at any time in ZenART Supplies sole discretion. Bonus zen coin offers cannot be combined with any other offer.
  • Limitations on Bonus Zen Coins and Zen Coins, Generally. These terms apply to zen coins and bonus zen coins accruals. If you purchase a product during a promotion and the product comes with an additional, free product, zen coins will not be issued on the retail value of the free product. If you redeem zen coins towards the purchase of a product and pay a portion of the retail price after the zen coin's redemption, you will receive zen coins only on the leftover retail amount you pay, and not on any value attributed to the zen coin you used. If you redeem zen coins towards the purchase of a product in an amount equal to the full price of the product, you will not earn any zen coins.
  • Non-purchase Options for Earning Zen Coins. You may also earn additional zen coins on non-purchase activities. From time to time, ZenART Supplies may offer you the chance to win various prizes, and earn zen coins, for entering into promotions. For sweepstakes promotions, there is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PLAY OR TO WIN. Rules and restrictions will apply to such promotions and may be found on the entry page of any promotion.
  • Referring a friend to ZenART Supplies. Email a friend an $8 off coupon on $50 order by clicking “ Earn Zen Coins” then “ Refer a Friend”. Enter the email address of a friend who has not purchased with ZenART Supplies before (if your referral has shopped with us before the referral link will be automatically voided by the system). A referral link will be sent to your friend with an $8 off coupon on a $50 order. $8 off coupon on $50 order will automatically be rewarded to your account only if the referral friend used the link sent to them from your referral account and makes a qualifying first-time purchase with ZenART Supplies. Your Referral friend will receive an $8 off coupon on $50 order, 200 zen coins for signing up, and zen coins from their first purchase made while signed into their new ZenART Supplies account.

3. REDEEMING ZEN COINS

  • How To Use Your Zen Coins. Zen Coins must be used in increments outlined in these Terms and Conditions. The maximum number of zen coins that may be used in a single transaction is 10,000 zen coins. Zen Coins may only be used Online at the ZenART Supplies website. Zen Coins towards Products: Members can use their zen coins to reduce the purchase price of a product or to receive a product for free based on the following scale:
    • 500 zen coins = $5.00 off
    • 1,000 zen coins = $10.00 off your at least $50 order
    • 1,500 zen coins = $15.00 off your at least $50 order
    • 2,500 zen coins = $25.00 off your at least $50 order

    Zen Coins can only be redeemed in any combination of the zen coin and increment amounts set forth above. Redemption of zen coins towards purchases of products is subject to product availability. Any rewards discounts that are applied to the order, will be distributed equally to the applicable items in the order when completing a return.

  • Gift cards. Once available, zen coins cannot be used towards the purchase of gift cards. Gift card redemption, however, is eligible for zen coins. Zen Coins accrued pursuant to the use of a gift card will benefit the gift card user, provided the user has an account in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
  • To Redeem your Zen Coins. Before you begin shopping with us, sign in to your Shop account on our site. Select “Redeem Zen Coins” from the red tab housed in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and select the amount of zen coins you would like to redeem. You will be issued a custom code that you can copy and paste into the discount bar during check out (Please note - only one code can be used). Your total payment amount will be discounted by the amount of zen coins you allocate to the purchase. Note that zen coins may only be redeemed for the purchase price of the product. Sales tax, shipping, and other handling charges assessed in addition to the price of the product are your responsibility and zen coins may not be used to discount these additional charges.
  • Exclusions. Only one account per natural person. Only one discount code can be redeemed per transaction. Rewards redemption codes may not be combined with any other discount codes. Zen Coins may not be transferred or gifted at this time. Zen Coins cannot be used on past purchases. Zen Coins accumulated on different accounts by different members may not be combined or aggregated to make purchases of products or for any other reason. Zen Coins earned in a transaction cannot be redeemed in the same transaction. Redeemed zen coins cannot be retroactively applied to any past order or receive a price adjustment on any order where redeemed zen coins were not applied. Zen Coins have no cash value outside of the ZenART Supplies website and are available only to members in good standing.
  • Zen Coins Expiration and Time Lapses. All zen coins acquired, whether standard zen coins or bonus zen coins, shall expire 180 days from the date the zen coins are added to your account. Zen Coins expire 180 days from the date in which they were assigned to your account. Specific onsite activities in which zen coins will be awarded are set to accrue zen coins based on a time-lapse at the discretion of ZenART Supplies.
    • Sign up: zen coins are added to your account instantly
    • Order: zen coins are added to your account when your order is placed.
  • Once zen coins are redeemed, a discount code will be assigned and we are unable to cancel the discount code and reapply the zen coins to your Reward & Referral account. Discount codes generated by redeeming zen coins do not expire until used. They are a one-time use code, so once it is used it is gone. If an order is returned zen coins will not be reinstated.

4. Subscribe & Save Plan

  • Re-occurring purchase. Purchase is necessary in order to participate in this plan. The plan is worth $6.95 and will be charged to your account on the same date of the month that you purchased the plan, i.e. if you purchased the plan on 19th of January, you will be charged for the plan on the 19th of each month you are a Subscribe & Save Plan member.
  • 15% re-occurring discount. As a member of the subscribe & Save Plan, you are eligible for a 15% discount every time you put an order in place. You are qualified for the discount as soon as you purchase the plan.
  • Cancellation. After a purchase made with a Subscribe & Save Plan, you are not able to get a refund for the plan for the month the purchase was valid for but you can cancel for the following months.
  • Free samples & accessories. These are included for members of Subscribe & Save Plan only. These are not included in each order but the member will be informed when they will receive "extras" in their order.
  • Access to exclusive content. Exclusive access to tutorials, guides, tips & tricks in video, pdf, or audio format will be part of the membership program. Not all exclusive content is available but what is and will be available is up to ZenART Supplies sole discretion.

5. GENERAL

  • By registering with Zenartsupplies.co and joining the Reward & Referral Program, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in these Terms and Conditions, as well as any other terms that may be associated with the Reward & Referral Program. ZenART Supplies reserves the right to cancel, modify, suspend or restrict the Reward & Referral Program, your account, the redemption of zen coins, or any aspect of the Program, including, without limitation, the zen coin conversion ratio and the zen coin expiration policy at any time. Any changes can be made without advance notice. ZenART Supplies may make these changes even though such changes may affect your ability to use zen coins already accumulated. You are responsible for remaining knowledgeable about the Program Terms and Conditions. A Member's zen coins balance, as reflected in ZenART Supplies records, shall be deemed correct. ZenART Supplies reserves the right to determine the amount of zen coins in any Member's account based on ZenART Supplies' internal records related to such Member's account. In the event of an inconsistency between the amount accrued in a Member's account as stated on any Member's receipt and ZenART Supplies internal records, ZenART Supplies internal records will control. ZenART Supplies assumes no responsibility for errors caused by incorrect Member information. Your right to transfer zen coins earned or granted under the Program is strictly limited. The sale of zen coins is prohibited and may result in the confiscation or cancellation of your zen coins as well as suspension or termination of your membership, which in each case shall be final and conclusive. All transactions involving zen coins and all Member accounts are subject to review and verification by ZenART Supplies. The zen coins balance in a Member's account may be unavailable for use when an account or transaction is under review. ZenART Supplies may revoke any Member's membership in the Reward & Referral Program at any time if such Member engages in abuse of the Reward & Referral Program or fails to follow the terms and conditions of the Program. Fraud or abuse relating to the accrual of zen coins or redemption of rewards may result in revocation of membership in the Program and may affect a Member's eligibility for participation in any other ZenART Supplies program, present or future. Zen Coins are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. The interpretation and application of the Program's Terms and Conditions are at the sole discretion and determination of ZenART Supplies. For more information or other questions, click on Contact Us.
  • The Terms and Conditions of the loyalty program are subject to change at ZenART Supplies’ sole discretion at any time and without notice to customers. Upon customer’s at-will termination of their Zenartsupplies.com registered account, or if a customer is termination for violation of these Terms and Conditions or other activities in violation of the intent and good faith intended use of this Site, all zen coins will immediately be forfeited and will no longer be redeemable. ZenART Supplies will make reasonable efforts to award zen coins as outlined above to all 1. registered and 2. qualifying Zenartsupplies.co customers but is not responsible for any technical or unforeseen errors that may occur.
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Inspiration

Who was Gustav Klimt?

Who was Gustav Klimt?

Everyone knows Gustav Klimt for his iconic painting The Kiss. It’s big, it’s shiny, it’s an icon of art history and pop culture. We’ve even featured it in our previous post on the best love paintings of all time.

But there’s more to Gustav Klimt than his Golden Period. 

The Austrian painter was quite controversial for his time. For one, Klimt loved love—there’s something to be said about the way he portrayed lovers and human sexuality in his art. I see his work as a passionate and gilded perspective on raw human desire. Vienna’s society during his time, however, would disagree. Suffice to say, it was a huge art scandal.

Klimt was also the co-founder and former head of the Vienna Secession: a creative movement done in protest of conventional and traditionalist art. His pioneering work would pave the way for Art Nouveau and the total progression of Austrian art and architecture.

Who was Gustav Klimt and what was he known for?

"Art is a line around your thoughts." - Gustav Klimt

"Art is a line around your thoughts." - Gustav Klimt

Name: Gustav Klimt 

Date of Birth: 14 July 1862

Place of Birth: Baumgarten, Austrian Empire

Date of Death: 6 February 1918 (55 years old)

Place of Death: Vienna, Austria-Hungary

Known for: Gustav Klimt was an Austrian painter best known for The Kiss, painted at the height of his Golden Phase. He was a notable member of the Vienna Secession, a group of Austrian artists who rejected the traditionalist art style dominated by the Austrian Academy of Art.

8 Facts about Gustav Klimt

We don’t know a whole lot about Gustav Klimt’s life. Though his art looks opulent and lavishly decorative, the artist himself kept his private life, well, private. Many artists have written about their own works, but Klimt rarely discussed his work. 

Honestly, he didn’t need to. His art speaks for itself. We can only speculate on what inspired his avant-garde creations. 

In honor of his 160th birth anniversary, let’s get to know the great symbolist painter Gustav Klimt one fun fact and beautiful painting at a time.

He was born to a creative family and showed his talent at an early age

Gustav Klimt was born to Anna Klimt and Ernst Klimt in Baumgarten—somewhere near Vienna in the (then) Austrian Empire. His mother was talented in music and his father was a gold engraver. He was the second son out of seven children. Gustav Klimt and his brothers Ernst and Georg all displayed creative talent as children having been taught how to paint by their father.

Klimt attended art school at the age of 14, winning a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts (now University of Applied Arts Vienna). There he took up architectural painting and studied from 1876 to 1883. However, during this time, he lived in poverty.

Before even graduating, Klimt began his professional artistic career in interior painting. He received many commissions. In 1888, Klimt’s murals earned him the Golden Order of Merit from Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria.

He was a co-founder and president of the Vienna Secession

A section of the Beethoven Frieze mural by Gustav Klimt

In an act of rejecting the traditionalist views of the Viennese art establishment, Gustav Klimt and a handful of artists and architects founded the Vienna Secession. 

This movement is central to Vienna’s tradition of Art Nouveau. The artists behind the Vienna Secession envisioned a synthesis of different art forms. They called it the Gesamtkunstwerk, translated as a “total work of art.” 

Art, to the Vienna Secession, is harmony. And Klimt’s greatest representation of this philosophy is the Beethoven Frieze. It’s now permanently on display in their historic headquarters, the Secession Building in Vienna.

Gustav Klimt never created a self-portrait

Klimt once said, “Whoever wants to know something about me, they should look attentively at my pictures and there seek to recognize what I am and what I want.” 

He claims he never painted a self-portrait, finding himself to be an uninteresting subject. Instead, Gustav Klimt preferred painting women and all their sensual power. Though known for his portraits and murals, Klimt also liked painting landscapes.

Despite his fame and success, Klimt kept his private life, well, private. Art historians can only speculate on his personality. It’s all quite ambiguous. Instead, we must piece together who Klimt was, through his greatest works and his life’s contradictions.

He loved cats and hated public appearances 

A famous picture of Gustav Klimt holding one of his cats

Despite Klimt’s time in the spotlight, his contemporaries would sometimes describe him as shy. It was far more important to him to keep up his daily artist routine in his studio than make all those public appearances. Klimt saw socializing as a waste of time, something that ruined his creative rhythm.

He much preferred the silence of his studio and the company of his cats. He had, probably, eight or ten of them running among his sketches in his workshop. Klimt knew how chaotic cats could be. But as any cat-lover knows, that’s all part of their charm. 

Klimt once said to art critic Arthur Roessler, “Even if they crumple and tear one or the other pieces of paper, it doesn't matter; they only pee on the others, and, you know, it makes the best fixing agent!”

But he loved women more

Though Gustav Klimt kept most of his affairs secret to avoid public scandal, he was a known womanizer. This isn’t surprising—you can see it in his art. It’s even suggested that he had affaiurs with all the women he painted.

Despite this, Gustav Klimt had one enduring relationship with his muse Emilie Flöge. Her sister, Helene, married Klimt’s brother, Ernst the younger. Art historians say The Kiss shows Flöge and Klimt as lovers. Klimt’s last words, allegedly, were to call for Emilie. 

It’s said that, with his many mistresses, Gustav Klimt fathered at least 14 children.

Klimt’s works were controversial for being too erotic

Gustav Klimt was instrumental in pushing the Art Nouveau movement in Vienna forward. However, the more conservative art critics labeled his art as pornographic. Though we see his work today as erotic and decorative, they were seen as scandalous. Still, the commissions from high society kept rolling in. 

Klimt didn’t let his critics and haters stop him from painting. In fact, he was all the more motivated to keep shaking up the establishment. 

The Byzantine period heavily influenced his Golden Phase

Rarely did Gustav Klimt travel outside Austria. He did, however, travel to Ravenna and Venice in Italy. There he saw many gilded Byzantine mosaics. These made such a huge impact on Klimt’s art that he began to work on his Golden Phase. 

When you think of Klimt, don’t you think of the golden geometric patterns and gorgeous, ethereal women figures? Klimt’s Golden Phase would become the height of his career. It catapulted him to artistic and financial success. It’s the reason he’s now one of the most expensive artists ever. 

Nazis stole his portraits of Adele Bloch-Bauer

Two of Gustav Klimt’s portraits are involved in one of the most famous instances of Nazi art theft in history. 

Adele Bloch Bauer was a Viennese socialite who often hosted artists in her home. She married Ferdinand Bloch, a Jewish-Viennese banker and sugar producer. They were an affluent couple and they owned several paintings by Gustav Klimt.

The most famous of their Klimt paintings was, of course, the two portraits of Adele Bloch Bauer—one of them was also known as The Lady in Gold. 

Following the Nazi invasion of Austria, Ferdinand Bloch fled Vienna and left behind his art collection. Adele Bloch Bauer had died a few years before. The Nazis then plundered the Bloch Bauer estate and with it, the famous Klimt portraits. These paintings were moved to the Galerie Belvedere after the war. After a lawsuit, they were returned to the Bauer’s heir, Maria Altmann.

6 famous works by Gustav Klimt and where to find them

Now that we've learned a bit about Gustav Klimt's life, let's discover some of his most popular works. If you can, plan a trip to Vienna where most of his masterpieces stand today.

Judith and the Head of Holoferne (1901), Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Vienna

Judith and the Head of Holoferne (1901)

In the Bible, Judith is a beautiful widow who liberates Israel from invasion by charming and beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes.

Judith was previously depicted by many Renaissance painters, notably Donatello, Sandro Botticelli, and Caravaggio. In previous renditions, it’s hard to separate Judith from her act of violence, but Klimt ignores all that. Instead, Klimt takes the symbolist route. 

Here, he casts Judith in a much more sensual—I like to think empowered—light. Holofernes is almost totally excluded from the narrative, his head barely visible in the corner. Judith basks in golden light, proud, sensual, and seductive. There’s not a sword in sight but she still holds her greatest weapon. It’s written all over her face.

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907), Neue Galerie, New York 

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907); also known as The Lady in Gold

My personal favorite of all the Klimt portraits—and not just for its intense history. It’s a true masterpiece of the Symbolist art movement and the most evocative of Klimt’s Golden Phase.

Take a closer look and you’ll see the subject, Adele, wearing the same jeweled choker as in Klimt’s 1901 Judith. Adele Bloch Bauer is clothed in gold and sits on gold too. Both background and clothing are covered ins symbols—some interpreted as erotic, others echoing the Byzantine mosaics Klimt held in such fascination.

Art historians suggest Adele Bloch Bauer was one of Klimt’s many mistresses.

Danaë (1907), Würthle Gallery, Vienna

Danaë (1907)

Another prime example of Klimt’s Symbolist works. In Greek mythology, Danaë is the mother of Perseus by Zeus. her depiction in art is divisive. Some artists portray her as virtuous and others voluptuous. 

Gustav Klimt goes full on erotica with this painting. Here, Danaë is barely clothed in imperial purple. In her face, her arousal is clear as the golden and godly stream of raindrops (Zeus’s form in the myth).

The Kiss (1908), Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Vienna

The Kiss (1908)

This work is probably the one most synonymous with Gustav Klimt. It’s peak Viennese Art Nouveau—a towering work of oil and gold leaf. 

We argue it’s one of the best love paintings of all time. Wouldn’t you agree?

The Kiss has inspired many more paintings and moments in pop culture. It’s a portrait of two lovers with the look and feel of a mosaic. Opulent and sensual. Two lovers are shrouded in typical Klimt gold, near inseparable if not for the patterns on their garments.

The Park (1910), Museum of Modern Art, New York

The Park (1910)

Hands down my favorite work by Gustav Klimt. He’s known for his portraits and murals, but for a while Klimt delved into landscapes too.

For one, the composition of this piece is gorgeous. It’s verdant and almost abstract with pulled focus on the leaves of the trees. There’s almost an echo of pointillism here, as seen in Klimt’s blending of greens, yellows, and blues. You realize the setting is a park once your eyes finally graze the bottom of the painting.

The Park is a refreshing turn from the golden decadence we equate with its painter.

Death and Life (1915), Leopold Museum Vienna

Death and Life (1915)

We see more clearly here, Gustav Klimt’s obsession with the allegorical and psychosexual. On the left, we see a grinning Grim Reaper looking at a fusion of all of life’s stages. On the right, we see life—all its generations and colors and miracles. 

This depiction of life and death is hopeful. All of human life still shines even in the threat of Death’s presence. 

Another fun fact: Gustav Klimt may have over-painted Death and Life. Up close, the background looks muddy. Beneath that blue-gray, there are traces of gold. Though his painting won first place at an international exhibit in Rome, it seems Klimt wasn’t fully satisfied with this painting.

What do you like and think of Gustav Klimt?

What’s your favorite painting and newly-learned fact about Gustav Klimt? Have his works inspired you to create something grand and golden, too? 

Every month, we feature an icon in art history. Got a favorite artist you want us to cover next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! If you liked this piece, you might love our previous art history blogs like the best love paintings of all time, more about another symbolist painter Paul Gauguin, or even the mystery behind Van Gogh. For more, read the Inspiration section on our blog!

 

 


- MEET THE AUTHOR-

Belle O. Mapa is a writer and artist based in Manila, Philippines. She believes that everyone is born with an inner creative spirit—we just need to nurture and discover it on the blank page. Currently, she lives out her passion: writing stories, hosting journaling workshops, and advocating for mental health awareness.


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