Erika Giovanna Klien

Erika Giovanna Klien was born in Borgo di Valsugana, Trentino in 1900. From 1919 to 1924, she studied the ornamental theory of form at the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Arts and Crafts) in Vienna, taught by Franz Čižek. As the main representative of the Viennese Kinetism, she had a life long passion for the movement of the human body, plants, animals as well as machines. Her extensive oeuvre includes oil paintings, watercolours as well as drawings and prints. Klien's painting "New Year's Eve" is a prime example of her unique style. The scene shows a group of people sitting and drinking together at New Year's. The objects and figures are geometric, partially doubled, following the features of Cubo-Futurism, which took Europe by storm, between 1911 and 1914, excluding Austria. Other features of this artform can also be seen in this painting, shrill colours, which stand in stark contrast to each other, almost like hallucinations. Klien perfectly utilizes this trait for the subject of the painting, after all a group of tipsy people also might not see as clearly. The artist also did several studies for this oil painting, showing a group of people playing cards, drinking and smoking - her brother Gunther Klien's friends. The geometric shapes, fragmented forms, and vibrant colors create a dynamic and almost hallucinatory effect. Klien's interest in the human body and its interaction with its surroundings is evident in the detailed studies she created for this painting. These studies provide valuable insights into her artistic process and the development of her signature style.