Josef Lewinsky

Josef Lewinsky

The painting of Joseph Lewinsky illustrates a prominent actor as he poses in his role of Don Carlos. Gustav Clint who was commissioned upon completing arts school in Vienna, to paint murals for the theatre created the painting. The oil on canvas piece illustrates Lewinsky's prominent character and powerful role within the play.

Upon being hired, the artist was given the task to paint a mural of any actor that he found to be prominent within their work in the theatre. As the actor played his role of Don Carlos for 36 years, Klimt thought and he would be the perfect candidate to be displayed within large walls of the theatre. The artist was inspired by the actor's long history in the theatre, and felt that his presence nicely illustrated the allegory of the theatre.

The painting of Lewinsky depicts the actor standing in an upright position with his arms crossed, as he is dressed in the dark thick black cloak the flows towards his knees and covers his arms. Through his shirt a glimpse of white ruffles are illustrated coming out of the middle. White ruffles continue to flow outside of the actor sleeves. He where is the black tights that hug his legs perfectly heading down into his black pointy shoes with a metal buckle. The actors significant face stares off into the distance with a straight downward smile. The emotions showcased within the face of the actor are very deep and powerful, as it illustrates that the actor is incredibly proud of his work. The actors hair is pulled back out of his face tied in a ponytail in the back, with his ears pointing out.

The dark allure of the piece illustrates the strong emotion held behind the work. The significance behind the painting does not necessarily lie primarily within the actor and his pose, however in the outside details located around the mural. On the left side of the mural, gold leaves are painted on top of the gray undertones. It is interesting to witness within this style, as the artist classic gold phase will be influenced by the piece of art. The left side of the mural illustrates a woman holding two masks; this showcases the allegory of the theatre and the philosophy behind the plays.

The tension behind the presence of the actor is illustrated due to the dark shades that are used throughout the piece. Black is used in the background, as it gently blends into the silhouette of the actor, making the distinction between the different colours difficult to spot. Klimt had done a great job at showcasing the dark presence of the actor by using the deep colour scheme to illustrate the emotion that he feels. The grey tones on the outside of the main painting illustrating a continuous dark emotion felt throughout the piece. At the top left corner, a frighten man stairs directly at the viewer, creating the emotion of fear as the viewer wonders what occurs within the theatre.