Klimt and Beethoven: artistic rebellion in fin de siècle Vienna
Fri, Feb 27
|Foundling Museum
This lecture explores the historical context of Gustav Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze. By examining Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze and the 1902 exhibition it was made for, we will come to understand Beethoven’s impact at this pivotal time in European history. more info below
Time & Location
Feb 27, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ, UK
About the Event
Just as Klimt and his fellow artists of the Vienna Succession were seeking freedom from repressive institutions, Freud’s psychoanalysis, Wittgenstein’s linguistic philosophies and Mahler’s emotive symphonies were emerging. Their city, Vienna, was hotbed of individual expression and introspection and Beethoven was the era’s historical hero. In particular, the composer’s late period (1812-1827), marked by visionary introspection, resonated with the artists and thinkers of late 19th century Vienna.
Join Sarah Jaffray as she examines Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze and the 1902 exhibition it was made for, we will come to understand Beethoven’s impact at this pivotal time in European history.
Please note this talk is organised in partnership with the Foundling Museum and booking will be through their website. They do not list all their upcoming talks at once. You will be able to book for the talk closer to the date.