Klimt was one of the most leading representatives of Art Nouveau, the movement which extend all over Europe in the end of 19th century. His advance was stimulated by some aspects of Impressionist technique; it was also determinedly eclectic, borrowing aspirations and motifs from Egyptian, Greek and Byzantine art.
Although his art is now far and wide admired, it was ignored for to a large extent of the 20th century, and provoked resistance in his own day, facing charges of obscenity and objections to his calmly allusive come near to symbolism. His handling of erotic themes was as a rule delicate and veiled in his paintings, but his drawings gave full appearance to his great sexual hunger.
