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Medicine (Klimt Painting)

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Medicine was a painting created by Gustav Klimt in the years between 1900-1907. In 1893 Klimt was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the University of Vienna's Great Hall. despite being criticized for his earlier painting for the celing, philosophy, Gustav presented the painting in 1901. The painting was also heavily criticized during Klimt's life and eventually destroyed by German SS forces in May 1945. The painting was part of a set of three, all of which were destroyed, including Philiosophy [1] and Jurisprudence [2].

The bottom portion of the Medicine, showing Hygieia

Philosophy

Philiosophy [3] was the first of the three pictures presented to the Austrian Government. It had been awarded a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris, but was attacked by those in his own country. In his own words Klimt described the painting. "On the left a group of figures, the beginning of life, fruition, decay. On the right, the globe as mystery. Emerging below, a figure of light: knowledge." Other critics saw it as men and women drifting in a trance with no control over which direction they take. The original proposal for the painting was the triumph of light over darkness, but what Klimt presented was the victory of darkness over all.

Medicine

The second work presented, it featured a column of nude figures on the right hand side of the painting, representing the river of life. Beside it was a young nude female who floated in space, with a newborn infant at her feet, representing life. A skeleton represented death in the river of life . The only link between the floating woman and the river of bodies is two arms, the womans and a mans as seen from behind. At the bottom of the painting Hygieia stood with the Aesculapian snake around her arm and the cup of Lethe in her hand, turning her back away from mankind. Klimt was trying to convey the powerlessness of medicine in the painting. For a photograph of the painting see here.

Jurisprudence

Jurisprudence [4] was the thirs of the paintings presented a condemned man surrounded by the three furies: Truth, Justice and Law. They are shown as the Eumenides, punishing the condemned man with an octopus's deadly embrace.

Reaction

Upon display the painting was immediately attacked by critics who disagreed with the theme of the powerlessness of medicine in a time when Vienna was leading the world in medical research under such figures as Theodor Billroth (1829-94), Frantisek Chvostek (1835-84), and Ludwig Türck (1810-68). An editorial in the Medizinische Wochenschrift complained that the painter had ignored doctors' two main achievements, prevention and cure. The painting was also under the normal attack of pornography which Klimt often faced. By 1901 a public prosecutor was called in and the issue even reached parliament, the first time that a cultural debate had ever been raised there, but in the end no action was taken. Only the education minister defended him, and when he was elected to be a professor at the academy in 1901 the government refused to ratify it. He was never offered another teaching position. This would also be the last time Klimt would accept commissions from the state, remarking: "Enough of censorship...I want to get away...I refuse every form of support from the state, I'll do without it all."

A later painting of his entitled Goldfish (to my critics)(1901-1902) [5]which showed a beutiful woman sticking out her bottom at the viewer, an obvious response to all those who attacked the 'pornography' and perverted excess' of the University paintings.

Outcome & Destruction

His final commissioned work for the celing, Jurisprudence, was exhibited to the same reaction, and resulted in the paintings not being allowed to be used on the celing. The paintings were requested for an exhibition in St Louis in 1904, but the ministry declined, nervous of what the reaction might be. Klimt then resigned his commission, wishing to keep his work, but the ministry insisted they were already property of the state. Only when Klimt threatened the removal staff with a shotgun was he able to keep his painting. Klimt repaid his advance with the support of August Lederer, one of his major patrons, who in return received Philosophy. In 1911 Medicine and Jurisprudence were bought by Klimt's friend and fellow artist, Koloman Moser. Medicine eventually fell into the hands of a Jewish family, and in 1938 the painting was seized by Germany. In 1943 after a final exhibition they were moved to Schloss Immendorf, a castle in Lower Austria, for protection. In May 1945 the paintings were destroyed as retreating German SS forces set fire to the castle to prevent it falling into enemy hands. All that remains now are preparatory sketches and a few photographs, most notably that of one focusing solely on Hygieia. Only one photograph remains of the complete painting, taken just before it was destroyed. [6]


References

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