“The Stoclet Frieze”
This gorgeous mosaic frieze piece is by the Austrian Symbolism artist, Gustav Klimt, made between 1905 and 1911 and is titled “The Stoclet Frieze”. It is a series of three panels which are referred to as “Expectation” (on the left), “The Tree of Life” (in the center), and “Fulfillment” (on the right). It was made during Klimt’s ‘Golden Phase’ when he commonly embellished his art with gold leaf.
Klimt created “The Stoclet Frieze” to adorn three walls for the main dining room of the Stoclet Palace. This mansion was built by the Austrian architect, Josef Hoffmann, as a private home in Brussels for the Belgian banker, Adolphe Stoclet and his wife, Suzanne. Stoclet and his wife were avid art collectors and hired the top artists in their fields to design and build their new home.
The materials Klimt used in the frieze include ceramic, gilded tiles, pearls, and marble. Klimt has said of this work, that it was “probably the ultimate stage of my development of ornament” and it radiates with Art Nouveau whimsy.
In this piece, Klimt tackles the age-old symbology of the tree of life, which has been around for thousands of years within theology, philosophy, and mythology. This concept dates back to the time of the ancient Egyptians which seemed to have influenced Klimt in this piece (notice the Egyptian looking eyes and bird located within the tree). The tree of life symbolizes the interconnection of all things including heaven, hell, earth, life, and death.
The “Expectation” Panel features a woman in a patterned dress that looks as if she was inspired from ancient Egyptian art as well. Her dress is highly decorative and expands as it nears the ground. The “Fulfillment” panel features a couple locked in an embrace. Their clothes seem to entwine them both together. Elements within the patterned clothing of the figures mimic those found within the tree itself.
Today, the mansion is still privately owned by the Stoclet family and in 2009 it became an UNESCO World Heritage site. Unfortunately, as it is still private, it is not open to the public. However, you can see several studies and working drawings for the final “The Stoclet Frieze” mosaic on display at the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art in Vienna, Austria.
For more on Gustav Klimt, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
