Gustav Klimt (1862–1918), an Austrian symbolist painter, left an indelible mark on the art world during the turn of the 20th century. After studying at the Vienna School of Decorative Arts, Klimt opened an independent studio specializing in mural paintings. His mature style emerged in 1897 when he founded the Vienna Secession—a group of painters who rebelled against academic art in favor of a highly decorative style akin to Art Nouveau. Klimt’s works, marked by sensuality and elegance, often depict the female body with frank eroticism. Notable pieces include “The Kiss” (1908–09) and portraits of fashionable Viennese matrons. His legacy lies in shaping the beginning of modern art in Vienna, where beauty reigns supreme.