Klimt developed a painting style rich with nuances and based on the formal decorative innovations typical of the Art Nouveau: golden surfaces, intricate patterns, a direct exploring of themes such as sexuality and morality, never losing track of assessment against the "real". He was a point of reference and a generous supporter of young artists' of his times.
Both Kokoschka and Schiele were introduced to Vienna's public owing to Klimt's help, and they both took part in the "Kunstschau" (Art Show) in 1908 and 1909 respectively.

Oskar Kokoschka did not have a painter's education. He got inspiration for his works from the ethnographic museum setting himself apart for his "raw" and "abrasive" style, totally in antithesis with Klimt's refined approach. After the First World War he moved to Dresda where he started to use more luminous and brighter colours, typical of German expressionism, and painted various foreign landscapes and mythological themes.

Egon Schiele's career lasted little less then ten years, his "Expressionist" style becomes recognisable from 1910; in the beginning he paints portraits with darker hues, then strong coloured watercolours like orange, red, green.
He achieved his first great success with an exhibition at the "Vienna Secession" in March 1918. Unfortunately six months later he died from flu.

October.2001