Where Is The Tree of Life? See It at MAK Vienna

Q: Where can I see the Tree of Life?

The original design is part of a mosaic frieze at the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, a private residence not open to the public. Studies and cartoons are at the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts) in Vienna. Klimt designed it between 1905 and 1911.

Q: What does the Tree of Life depict?

A spiraling tree with golden branches fills a decorative panel. On one side, a standing woman (sometimes identified as Expectation) faces the tree. On the other, a couple embraces (Fulfillment). The tree connects all figures in a continuous decorative flow. The spiraling branches symbolize eternal growth and connection.

Q: What art movement does this represent?

It bridges Symbolism and the Vienna Secession's decorative ideals. The Tree of Life motif draws on Egyptian, Byzantine, and Japanese influences. Klimt saw no boundary between fine art and gold decorative craft, a philosophy central to the Secession movement.

Gustav Klimt created The Tree of Life between 1905 and 1911 as the central element of the Stoclet Frieze, a monumental mosaic commission for a Brussels mansion. The swirling tree spirals across the composition, its branches becoming elaborate volutes studded with symbolic motifs: eyes, triangles, birds, and flowers.

Belgian financier Adolphe Stoclet and his wife Suzanne hired architect Josef Hoffmann and the Wiener Werkstätte collective to design their new home. Klimt received the commission for the dining room frieze. His preparatory drawings, done at 1:1 scale, were executed as mosaics using enamel, mother-of-pearl, coral, and gold leaf. Only the finest materials were acceptable.

The preparatory paintings measure 195 by 102 centimeters and are housed at MAK Vienna (Museum of Applied Arts). The actual mosaic frieze remains in the Palais Stoclet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009 that's still privately owned and rarely accessible. This project represents Klimt's most ambitious decorative work, blending Art Nouveau, Byzantine, Egyptian, and Japanese influences.

The original design is part of a mosaic frieze at the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, a private residence not open to the public. Studies and cartoons are at the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts) in Vienna. Klimt designed it between 1905 and 1911.

A spiraling tree with golden branches fills a decorative panel. On one side, a standing woman (sometimes identified as Expectation) faces the tree. On the other, a couple embraces (Fulfillment). The tree connects all figures in a continuous decorative flow. The spiraling branches symbolize eternal growth and connection.

Belgian industrialist Adolphe Stoclet commissioned Klimt to create a mosaic dining room decoration for his Brussels mansion, designed by architect Josef Hoffmann. The frieze uses marble, gold, silver, coral, and enamel. It's one of the most ambitious decorative art projects of the early 20th century.

The complete frieze spans the walls of the Stoclet dining room, approximately 2 meters tall and 8 meters long across multiple panels. The Tree of Life occupies the longest wall. Klimt's working drawings at the MAK museum measure about 197 cm × 102 cm each.

It bridges Symbolism and the Vienna Secession's decorative ideals. The Tree of Life motif draws on Egyptian, Byzantine, and Japanese influences. Klimt saw no boundary between fine art and gold decorative craft, a philosophy central to the Secession movement.

The Tree of Life

Details

Where to See It

The Artist

More by Gustav Klimt

Female organ player

Draft of a theater curtain

Portrait of a lady

Head Study of a Girl from Haná

Related Symbolism Works

The Oyster Eater

The Crossing

Self-Portrait with Mirror

Aino Myth, Triptych

Boy with a Crow

Lemminkäinen's Mother

Rustic Life

Christ's Entry into Brussels in 1889

About The Tree of Life

Own Art Like This