Gustav Klimt Quotes

#1. Sometimes I miss out the morning's painting session and instead study my Japanese books in the open.

Gustav Klimt

#2. There is always hope, as long as the canvases are empty.

Gustav Klimt

#3. All art is erotic.

Gustav Klimt

#4. There is no self-portrait of me.

Gustav Klimt

#5. After tea it's back to painting - a large poplar at dusk with a gathering storm. From time to time instead of this evening painting session I go bowling in one of the neighbouring villages, but not very often.

Gustav Klimt

#6. Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist which alone is significant - they should look attentively at my pictures and there seek to recognise what I am and what I want.

Gustav Klimt

#7. I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me -as an artist, the only notable thing- ought to look carefully at my pictures and try and see in them what I am and what I want to do.

Gustav Klimt

#8. Truth is like fire; to tell the truth means to glow and burn.

Gustav Klimt

#9. There is nothing that special to see when looking at me. I'm a painter who paints day in day out, from morning till evening - figure pictures and landscapes, more rarely portraits.

Gustav Klimt

#10. On my first days here I did not start work immediately but, as planned, I took it easy for a few days - flicked through books, studied Japanese art a little.

Gustav Klimt

#11. True relaxation, which would do me the world of good, does not exist for me.

Gustav Klimt

#12. Although even when I am being idle I have plenty of food for thought both early and late - thoughts both about and not about art.

Gustav Klimt

#13. Art is a line around your thoughts.

Gustav Klimt

#14. Even when I have to write a simple letter I'm scared stiff as if faced with looming seasickness.

Gustav Klimt

#15. If the weather is good I go into the nearby wood - there I am painting a small beech forest (in the sun) with a few conifers mixed in. This takes until 8 'o clock.

Gustav Klimt

#16. I can paint and draw. I believe this myself and a few other people say that they believe this too. But I'm not certain of whether it's true.

Gustav Klimt