Original artwork description:

A continuation of the death stamp collection. In this third stamp the death mask of Gustav Klimt takes centre stage. The artist best known for his Judith paintings and the Kiss had early experiences with death, losing his five year old sister Anna at twelve years old. Later on Ernst, his artist brother suffered a premature death at twenty eight, the same year their Father, Ernst Sr, also died.

There's a fascinating magnetism that draws you towards a death mask. The act of making a mould of the deceased's face is curious in itself, often being an act that takes place very shortly after death. One artist described making a mask of the executed prisoner, James Waybern Hall, 'the skin came out in goose bumps, as the mould was applied.'


Working on this illustration encouraged me to learn more about Klimt and his works, it was not time misspent.

Materials used:

Acrylic and pencil on paper

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