Gustav Klimt becomes one of the founding…

Gustav Klimt becomes one of the founding members and president of the Wiener Sezession (Vienna Secession) movement in 1897 and of the group's periodical, Ver Sacrum ("Sacred Spring").

He will remain with the Secession until 1908.

The goals of the group are to provide exhibitions for unconventional young artists, to bring the works of the best foreign artists to Vienna, and to publish its own magazine to showcase the work of members.

The group declares no manifesto and does not set out to encourage any particular style—Naturalists, Realists, and Symbolists all coexist.