This painting resembles a floral tapestry, a shimmering fabric of vibrant dabs, the red of the poppies standing out as the dominant color. There is no hint of sunlight nor shadow to be seen, only the occasional outlined tree, and a gray strip of sky above the high horizon. Klimt was inspired to paint works such as this by the luminous vibrancy of French Impressionism. But his poppy field does not convey a fleeting visual experience—far from it! Rather it exudes nature’s harmony and eternal validity. Klimt painted this work in the countryside surrounding the lake Attersee in Upper Austria, where he spent his summers after 1900.
1907
Oil on canvas
110.0 x 110.0cm
5166
Image © Belvedere, Vienna, 2024
Where you'll find this
Upper Belvedere
Permanent collection