Mada Primavesi 1912

Gustav Klimt made this portrait of Mada Primavesi with oil on canvas. Look at those dabs and daubs of colour, building up this girl’s frilly, floaty dress and the crazy field of flowers she’s standing in. I can imagine Klimt in his studio, turning the canvas, squinting, stepping back, trying to capture the essence of his subject. I mean, what was it like to be him then? Was he thinking about other paintings? Other girls? Was he wrestling with how to balance likeness and decoration? This isn't just a painting of a girl; it's also about the act of painting itself. The texture is so rich and layered. The flowers that float around the girl’s head are so delicate and ephemeral. I love the way the colours vibrate against each other. Klimt’s really in conversation with other painters, whether he knows it or not. And we’re still talking about it, looking at it, being moved by it. It’s all one big conversation, this painting thing. And it's so good.