Parastone - Klimt - Paperweight - Three ages of women (1905)

The Austrian Symbolist artist Gustav Klimt known to be a member of the "Vienna Secessionist" group, which was conformed by painters, sculptors and architects who left the Association of Austrian Artists during the early 1890's, appointed Klimt to be the first president of the secession. Gustav Klimt's masterpiece "The Three Ages of women" (1905) like its name suggests, depicts the life cycle of three women in different stages of life. Klimt's characteristic Art Nouveau organic ornamentation also stresses the interrelationship of the cycle of life and nature, through the depiction of flowers in the patterning, namely: budding, blooming and decay. Klimt engulfed the three women in the inevitable aura of the life cycle, however the baby and the young woman are separated from the older woman through the vibrant colors in the background, contrasting the earthy neutral tones of the older woman's background. Gustav Klimt like many of his contemporaries was influenced by the Fin de siècle of the end of the 19th century, which was substantiated by the believed that blooming progress of civilizations led to the degeneration evidenced in the present era, and led to optimistically hope for a period of regeneration in the upcoming period. Klimt's Fin de siècle views on society are also reflected in the depiction of the three life stages of the women in his work, for they also reflect the rise, height and eventual degeneration of societies across history. The Austrian symbolist artist Gustav Klimt's masterpiece "The Three Stages of Women (1905) is depicted on the surface of this beautiful half dome glass paperweight made by Parastone, which comes in an elegant presentation box making it perfect for any Klimt lovers.