Philosophy (final state) 1907

Editor: Here we have Gustav Klimt's "Philosophy," from 1907. It was an oil painting, part of a series of murals… but sadly, it was destroyed. Looking at it, I immediately feel a sense of… unease, maybe? All those figures, the swirling nebulous background… What do you see in this piece? Art Historian: Unease is spot on! The mood here is incredibly evocative. It's like peering into the raw, churning process of thought itself. The figures, caught in this sort of cosmic current… they're searching, grappling. Klimt isn't just depicting an idea; he's showing us the struggle to grasp it. That face staring out from the bottom – does it strike you as knowing, or perhaps, something else? Editor: Hmm, knowing but also… resigned? Like it understands the struggle is never really over? I also see so many intertwined figures; are they symbolic? Art Historian: Exactly! The figures are both individuals and representations of humanity as a whole, endlessly striving, suffering, reaching. I like the figures swirling into each other as you mentioned: a representation of shared consciousness; it also emphasizes isolation! Klimt, with that rebel spirit, was calling out the stuffy academic world. I imagine him winking as he paints all of this. But this was later destroyed. Can you think about it? Maybe because the university folks felt a little too exposed by his art, don’t you think? Editor: Definitely. So, he’s almost showing us that the search for knowledge can be turbulent, even painful? Also, there’s beauty mixed in the horror; this mixture creates all emotions at once. Art Historian: Beautifully said. And Klimt's use of light and shadow – that’s not accidental. Even now as a reproduction, you still find a glow behind a kind of veiled scene. He masterfully suggests the promise of enlightenment amidst all the existential chaos. Editor: Wow, that's given me a completely different way of seeing it! Thanks! I didn't notice at first many emotions and hidden symbols and meanings Art Historian: Art always surprises you. Isn't it wonderful? We only need the heart and curiosity. Now I will see this image and ask more questions about it. So, thank YOU.