Tree of Life

The tree of life is an important symbol used by many theologies, philosophies and mythologies. It signifies the connection between heaven, earth, and the underworld. The same concept is illustrated by Gustav Klimt's famous work, The Tree of Life. For Klimt's admirers, it has another significance, being the only landscape created by the artist during his golden period. Klimt used oil painting techniques with gold paint to create luxurious art pieces during that time. The concept of the tree of life is illustrated by Gustav Klimt's painting in a bold and original manner. The swirling branches create mythical symbolism, suggesting the perpetuity of life. The branches twist, twirl, turn, spiral and undulate, creating a tangle of strong branches, long vines and fragile threads, an expression of life's complexity. The imagery of its branches reaching for the sky while the roots spread deep into the earth beneath creates a connection between heaven and earth, a metaphor often used to explain the concept of the tree of life in many cultures, religions and ideologies. Klimt’s The Tree of Life creates an additional connection with the underworld, signifying the final determinism governing over every living thing that is born, grows, and then returns the earth.

While many talk about the symbol of unity in Gustav Klimt's The Tree of Life, there are others that consider it an expression of the masculine and feminine. The feminine expressed in the painting symbolizes sustenance, care and growth, while the masculine is expressed through phallic representations. From this union of opposites, life is born and the tree of life, as well. Others say that the painting symbolizes the union between man's greatest virtues, which are strength, wisdom and beauty. The tree reaching for the sky is a symbol of man's perpetual yearning for becoming more, yet his roots are still bound to the earth.

It is one of our users’ birthday today - so Happy Birthday Matt! This painting was requested by your friend Jackie :) Have a great weekend,

Zuzanna