On August 30th 1908, the fashion designer Emilie Flöge celebrates her 34th birthday. Emilie was Klimt’s lifetime companion (despite his many lovers) and his last words were “get Emilie”.

She inherited half of his estate, never married and kept a room dedicated to him.

 

It is thought that Klimt depicted Emilie in The Kiss, representing the “eternal love” and first shown during the Kunstschau exhibition in Vienna in 1908.

 

Rodin had met Klimt in 1902 in Vienna and they admired each other works, having much in common in their artistic approach. Rodin comment in the POST is based on two quotes “An art that has life does not reproduce the past; he continues it” and “Art is nothing but feeling”.

 

Sources:

Klimt, Ilona Sarmany-Parsons. 1988 

Klimt, Jane Rogoyska and Patrick Bade, 2005

Rodin artistic testament, 1911