Description of the painting by Gustav Klimt “Nude Truth”

Description of the painting by Gustav Klimt Nude Truth

“Naked Truth” – a picture that shocked Klimt’s contemporaries. It was a daring challenge to inert views and to all who believe that they can dictate to art workers how to create. If you can put it that way, with the help of this work the artist “showed the language” to his spiteful critics.

The hero of the picture is a nude woman, depicted in full growth. Her body is written with dramatic realism. A thick mop of red, wildly curly hair, camomiles woven into curls and a small mirror reflecting the truth – that’s all the elements of her image. The girl proclaims naturalness and spontaneity.

After the refined idealistic plots of the Renaissance, this bold, uncompromising image seemed to the public to be vulgar. Anticipating such a reaction, Klimt supplemented the canvas with a quote from Schiller about what everyone likes – this is evil. The position of the author sounded quite bright and straightforward, which greatly irritated the conservative public.

Despite the absence of decorations and flirty details, the image of a woman came out very expressive and provocative. She is confident, strong and knows the impression. Critics disagree about the snake at her feet. According to one version, it is a symbol of sin, which always accompanies the carnal nature of man. According to another, in this way, Klimt pointed to his ill-wishers who envy and spin intrigue.

The background of the picture is quite simple. This is an abstract pattern on a blue background. The work is framed in a golden frame. Below is the name of the painting in Latin. The phrase Nada Veritas originally belongs to Horace and means the true state of things. The tradition to depict the truth in the form of a naked girl figure refers us to ancient canvases, where beauties walked naked through beautiful gardens. However, the truth has never been so genuine.


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Description of the painting by Gustav Klimt “Nude Truth”