The Sirens

The Sirens offers a deep exploration into Gustav Klimt's under water work where he portrays an array of woman in abstract forms.

The painting belongs to the artist's compilation of art pieces, including Blood of Fish, Gold Fish, and Moving Water. These art works showcase an in depth portrayal of the female form submerged in deep water; analyzing in the way the body bends to the current and the hair sways.

However, The Sirens showcases a gloomy feel to the painting as it depicts these woman in a deformed toxin manner with an evil undertone.

The artwork illustrates two women's heads that spring out lush dark hair the folds into their bodies. The women closely resemble tadpoles in their form, adding a creepy undertone to the painting. Both women are covered in a thick bundle of hair, coloured in a dark shade with white dots covering their form.

These white dots add a scaly texture to their bodies, as the viewer questions what is occurring within the artwork. Soft features seize the woman on the right's face as her hair gently contours her face covering her side profile. Klimt hair painted her lips thinly, paired with a sharp nose and green eyes. This woman looks into the distance in front of her, as the viewer wonders what seized the sight of the creature.

To the left, the other woman swims through her tadpole form as she looks onto her partner. The woman's face holds a different form based on a blue undertone that covers her skin. Again, the lush black hair covers the structure of her face, yet still reveals an evil face. Both of the women have different coloured faces, adding to the endless questions the viewer is consumed with.

As depicted though Gustav Klimt's other work, the two women gently flow through the water as they inhabit the setting as their home. It is fascinating to witness how the 19th century artist has incorporated such a modern abstract feel into his work.

The painting was conceived in 1899; while Klimt's contemporises were stuck on making the jump from realism to Art Nouveau, the artist had already entered modernism and expressionism. The painting is corner stone in Gustav Klimt's transition as an artist, as one of the first people to showcase such an interesting art form, decades beyond his time.

While Klimt decided to steer into impressionism and his gold phase, another one of his similar paintings showcase a mysterious creepy feel similar to The Sirens: The Big Poplar II and Tall Poplar Trees II. These two artworks showcase the alluring presence of a poplar tree and a deformed old house along an empty landscape of apple trees.

It was popular upon the Victorian Era to depict puzzling art pieces that challenged the viewer to view the work in a new light. Gustav Klimt's classic style is cultivated through his freedom and desire to explore different art forms; creating though provoking pieces that continue to challenge viewers for centuries.