Medicine

The painting has an unusually long history that began in 1848 with the planning for a new building for the University of Vienna. After a long fight, that was spearheaded by the professors of the university, the building was finally inaugurated in 1883 although the interior was not yet finished. The newest addition to the campus was still missing the artistic decoration that was supposed to portray the favoured academic disciplines of the teaching body. After extensive groundwork and a multitude of design suggestions, Franz Matsch and Gustav Klimt received the definitive order to complete the panels. The nature of this commission is easily understood: the University expected a series of formal, dignified artworks in a classical style which were supposed to portray the healing power of medical science, the wisdom of the philosopher and undoubtedly the robed figure of Justice holding scales with blindfolded eyes representing law and jurisprudence. After a few years of hard work however, the university received such a controversial painting that it immediately caused a scandal and sparked wild debates over its appropriateness.

It is hard to say what Klimt wanted to express with this painting. The vision that the painting is conveying is chaotic, almost hellishly bleak. The skulls of old and wrinkled figures and the randomly scattered people rather attest to the decay and suffering of the human body than to its healing. The figure at the bottom with the snake wrapped around her arm is meant to represent the concept of medicine. Her portrayal, however, in her ornamental garment rather evokes the image of priestess that is sacrificing the sick. The other female figure which is positioned beside the pillar of the human bodies and silhouettes is notable for her posture: Her arms are thrown out as if mockingly imitating the crucifixion. This work also represents a complete break with the tradition of depicting round and homely women that were predominant in the academic style of the nineteenth century. Klimt paints his women with long hair and lean, curvy bodies. Their sexual confidence makes them attractive but – in its directness – menacing at the same time.