Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), a leading painter of late 19th-century Vienna. His works, combining brilliant ornamentation with fin-de-siècle sensuality, continue to captivate many people to this day.

The "Klimt: Vienna and Japan 1900" exhibition, held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Klimt's death, will feature over 20 oil paintings, the largest number ever displayed in Japan, ranging from his early naturalistic works to masterpieces of his "Golden Phase" using gold leaf, as well as his sweet depictions of women and landscapes.

This exhibition, which traces the evolution of Klimt's oeuvre, primarily features works from the Belvedere, Austrian Gallery of Painting in Vienna—considered a global repository of Klimt's art—and includes masterpieces such as "Judith I," "Nuda Veritas (The Naked Truth)," and "Schloss Kammer am Attersee III."

Furthermore, "The Three Ages of Woman," owned by the National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome, will make its first appearance in Japan. This work allegorically depicts the cycle of human life in three stages—childhood, youth, and old age—a theme Klimt was deeply interested in. Measuring approximately 170 cm square, it is one of Klimt's largest paintings, excluding murals, and is a masterpiece of exceptional completeness.

In addition, an exquisite replica of Klimt's 34-meter-long mural, the "Beethoven Frieze," will also be exhibited, recreating its display at the Vienna Secession building. The exhibition also includes works by contemporary Viennese painters and Japanese art that influenced Klimt, offering a comprehensive appreciation of the splendor of Viennese Art Nouveau.