Born in 1862 in Vienna, Austria, Klimt studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. He formed the Vienna Secession in 1897, a group of artists who wanted to challenge the traditional art establishment in Vienna. The Secessionists believed that art should be free from the constraints of the Academy and the State, and they sought to create a new artistic language that was both innovative and relevant to contemporary society.

Klimt's early work was heavily influenced by the Viennese Jugendstil, or Art Nouveau, movement, which emphasized decorative forms and stylized organic motifs. However, Klimt soon developed a distinctive style of his own, characterized by the use of gold leaf and a preoccupation with sexuality and the female form. His paintings often feature sinuous, abstracted figures, adorned with intricate patterns and decorative elements.