Vienna Secession & Expressionism
1897–1920Vienna's revolt against academic tradition. Klimt's gold and ornament, Schiele's tortured line — two poles of the same rebellion.
Klimt: gold leaf, ornamental pattern, oil paint. Schiele: gouache and watercolor on paper, exposed body as battleground.
Gustav Klimt
1862–1918Austrian
Master of golden decoration and erotic tension. The Kiss is the supreme symbol of Art Nouveau painting.
Mixed gold leaf with oil paint and tempera. Byzantine mosaics fused with Jugendstil ornament and frank sexuality.
Further reading: Klimt (Basic Art) — Gilles NéretByzantine gold
Actual gold leaf fused with oil paint — the signature of the Golden Phase.
Material: Gold leaf, gold paint, yellow ochre
RGB(200, 160, 32)
Adele's sapphire
Deep sapphire blue in the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer — jewel-like against gold.
Material: Ultramarine, cobalt blue
RGB(45, 74, 122)
Eros red
Vivid red of eroticism and passion in Klimt's figures.
Material: Vermilion, cadmium red
RGB(169, 32, 32)
Klimt garden green
Lush green of Klimt's landscape paintings at Lake Attersee.
Material: Viridian, chrome green, cadmium yellow
RGB(58, 106, 58)
Secession flesh
Luminous pale flesh against decorative gold and pattern.
Material: Lead white, yellow ochre, vermilion
RGB(226, 192, 160)
Ornament black
Graphic black outlining decorative patterns and figures.
Material: Ivory black, lamp black
RGB(29, 26, 24)
Pigments: Ochre · Gold leaf · Ultramarine · Cobalt blue · Vermilion · Cadmium red · Cadmium yellow · Viridian · Chrome green · Lead white · Lamp black · Bone black
Egon Schiele
1890–1918Austrian
Painter of raw, exposed bodies and tortured self-portraits. Died in the Spanish flu pandemic at 28.
Gouache and watercolor on paper — raw, unfinished edges. Contorted figures with exposed joints and veins.
Further reading: Schiele (Taschen Basic Art) — Reinhard SteinerBruise purple
Mottled purple of bruised, vulnerable flesh.
Material: Cobalt violet, alizarin crimson, gouache
RGB(91, 42, 74)
Feverish flesh
Hot orange-toned flesh — feverish, inflamed, alive.
Material: Cadmium orange, vermilion, gouache on paper
RGB(217, 128, 64)
Dead autumn leaf
Brown-gold of decay — autumn trees and withering bodies.
Material: Yellow ochre, raw sienna, burnt umber
RGB(140, 106, 42)
Contour black (Schiele)
The aggressive, angular contour line defining tortured bodies.
Material: India ink, charcoal, graphite
RGB(27, 20, 16)
Exposed paper
Raw paper left exposed — the void around isolated figures.
Material: Bare Strathmore or handmade paper
RGB(233, 220, 192)
Arterial red
Bright red of blood, nipples, genitalia — frank corporeal exposure.
Material: Vermilion, cadmium red, watercolor
RGB(170, 32, 32)
Pigments: Alizarin crimson · Cobalt violet · Vermilion · Cadmium yellow · Ochre · Umber · Sienna · Cadmium red
Related Materials
If this palette inspired you, here’s what to paint with.
Mona Lisa Gold Leaf Sheets for Gilding, 18 PackView on Amazon
Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache, Set of 6 TubesView on Amazon
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Studio Set, 24 Whole PansView on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Pigmentoria earns from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links.