The artwork “Jurisprudence (final state)” was crafted by renowned artist Gustav Klimt between the years 1903 and 1907. Klimt utilized oil on canvas for this allegorical painting, which measures 430 cm by 300 cm. Reflecting the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement, this piece was part of a series that Klimt created for the ceiling of the University of Vienna’s Great Hall, which unfortunately is now known to be destroyed.
The artwork features a complex and heavily symbolic composition, embodying themes relating to law and justice. Central to the piece are three figures representing the three faculties of the University: Jurisprudence, Philosophy, and Medicine. However, this particular painting focuses on the domain of law and justice. The figures are intertwined with flowing lines and elaborate patterns that are signature elements of Klimt’s style. The imagery suggests an interplay of justice and judgement, bound by tortuous shapes that may represent the complicated nature of the legal system and its penalties.
In the background, there are abstract and ornamental motifs, including a figure that stands with one arm raised, enveloped by a mosaic-like tapestry adorned with the word “LEX” (law in Latin), signifying the concept of legal order. Overall, despite the destruction of the original artwork, it continues to fascinate and provoke interpretation, encapsulating Gustav Klimt’s profound reflections on societal structures through his unique aesthetic approach.
