Inspired by past epoches Gustav Klimt created portraits of beautiful decorations and symbolism never seen before. At the end of the 19th century he developed a completely new way of painting that united natural details with abstract, colourful and tessellated patterns. You can discover them in ‘Dreams’, the new jewellery collection by Freywille and in The Immersive Experience expo in Brussels till 10th of January 2022.
Already while alive he was controversial but popular because of this unusual style. In his many works and his incomparable way or working the Freywille artists found the inspiration to dedicate a new collection to this artist. Dreams Hommage to Gustav Klimt pays tribute to the master of decorative art and presents a new collection of jewellery in ‘Grand Feu’ enamel, dreamy and colourful like the paintings of Klimt himself.
The inspiration
The world-famous painting ‘The Virgin’ by Klimt from 1913, which can be seen in the National Gallery in Prague was the inspiration for the latest collection of Freywille in ‘Grand Feu’ enamel. The impressive painting (190 x 200 cm) shows a collage of women who are lost in their dreams. The work of art occupies a special place in Klimt’s work, for it depicts one of the key aspects of the Viennese Secession movement: the interplay between youth, transience and mortality and impermanence and celebration of a woman’s beauty and life. This magnificent oil painting on canvas with its beautiful composition and vivid colours will not leave any spectator unmoved.
The design
The Freywille design team took the artwork as its starting point and knew how to capture perfectly its essential elements perfectly into these artistic jewels, which, like the work of like Klimt’s work, are a celebration of shapes and colors. The design team was inspired by the spirals on the patchwork blanket on the painting – a common element in Klimt’s work – and incorporated them sublimely into the ‘Grand Feu’ enamel. Add to that the lapis lazuli, the many shades of purple and the touches of red and green that can also be seen in the the painting, and the enamel ‘Grand Feu’ becomes a colourful tribute to the brilliant original. This colourful, dreamlike collection will undoubtedly delight lovers of Klimt’s art.
A radiant shade of lapis blue forms the basis of the grand feu enamel artwork. Brushes dipped in pure gold highlight the coordinated intertwined shapes of purple. Jade green, punctuated with multicoloured circles, refers to the floral composition of the painting.
Lush images, wonderful colours and lots of gold—with all of this, Freywille’s artists did not have difficulty finding inspiration for their Hommage a Gustav Klimt designs
The magic of enamel ‘Grand Feu
A radiant shade of lapis lazuli forms the basis of the grand feu enamel jewellery. Soft lines of the purest gold accentuate the intertwining spirals in various shades of purple and form a graceful frame. Jade green, punctuated with multicoloured circles, refers to the floral composition of the painting. The result is a series of magnificent jewels in grand feu enamel, handmade by the Freywille jewellery artists in the heart of Vienna. This striking and artistically artfully designed burnt enamel is applied in many layers and is then heated. In order to produce a delicate and intensely coloured slab of burnt enamel, up to 100 manual steps are required to do this. The perfect technique and the unique colours guarantee jewellery with an astonishing and glowing brilliance.
All Freywille jewellery is handmade in Vienna by the best craftsmen. These passionate and experienced artists keep the production process and guarantee unique Freywille jewellery of absolute top quality.
Portrait of Gustav Klimt
The expo is not only worth a visit for the amazing sound and lightshow we also loved the discover lots of facts about Gustav Klimt we didn’t know yet.
Did you know that Gustav Klimt was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna, in 1862. His father was an engraver, his mother was a singer, and artistic tendencies were encouraged. Gustav studied architectural painting at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts, where he readily accepted conservative training. He never turned his back on the old forms; throughout his life, he constantly borrowed from mythology to inform and shape his work. The result was a form of symbolism never seen before; by the end of the 1900s, he had developed a completely new way of painting that united natural details with abstract, colourful and tessellated patterns.
Klimt became known for his paintings, murals and beautiful objets d’art. If his style was unusual, his subject matter also raised eyebrows – Klimt saw nothing wrong in depicting sexuality and the female body became his primary subject. He also became known for using golf leaf, a practice he fully developed after being inspired during a trip to Italy. By 1909, he had received enormous recognition for ceiling frescos and wall paintings in Vienna’s Burgtheater, in the city’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and the University of Vienna. In 1910, the Venice Biennale purchased his painted ‘Judith II’, or ‘Salome’, and his international reputation was set.
In the early 1890s Klimt met the fashion designer Emilie Louise Flöge. Whether or not they were lovers is debatable. Klimt fathered at least 14 children – none with Emilie, yet she remained his companion for the rest of his life. She was the model for many of his figures and his masterpiece ‘The Kiss’ is thought to be the image of them together, real or imagined. When Klimt was finally felled by a stroke, in 1918, his last words were ‘Get Emilie’.
shop.Freywille.com or Place du Grand Sablon 45 in 1000 Brussels.
The Immersive Experience expo in Brussels till 10th of January 2022. Info www.expo-klimt.be
