Danae

Exactly one year ago we featured Flaming June - a beautiful image of a sleeping woman. She stuck in my mind so heavily that when I was thinking about what painting I should feature today, this Klimt crossed my mind immediately. Happy New Year! :)

This painting is a typical representation of Klimt’s stylized eroticism, and portrays the subject of Danae, which has been a popular theme throughout painting, having been painted before by Corregio, Rembrandt, and Titian. She was also a popular subject in the early1900s for many artists; Danae was the symbol of divine love, transcendence, and sensational beauty. By positioning the model with a raised leg, this painting pays tribute to the Titian series of paintings by the same name. As the story goes, while Danae was imprisoned by her father, she was visited by Zeus, in the form of the golden rain flowing between her legs. Soon after Zeus’ visit, Danae became pregnant and gave birth to her son Perseus. The drawings for the painting are more voyeuristic than the finished works. Klimt asked his models to pose in these revealing positions and drew them with simple, clear outlines. The ornament and rich coloring of the painted versions serve to distract the viewer's attention slightly from the exposed pose of the women.