Schwebende nach rechts, Wiederholung der Hände

The present work is a study for Die Sehnsucht nach Lust (The Longing for Happiness) portion of Gustav Klimt's 34-metre-long Beethoven Frieze, created in 1902 as an interpretation of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony by Richard Wagner. Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze was conceived as a celebration of humankind’s desire for happiness in a suffering and tempestuous world in which one contends not only with external evil forces, but also with internal weaknesses. The frieze begins with a long wall of floating Genii, gliding female figures symbolising the longing for happiness, one of whom is depicted in the present work. It then continues with a shorter end wall devoted to hostile forces, and is followed by the final wall where yearning for happiness finds appeasement in Poetry and five female figures representing the ideal realm, a place of pure joy, pure happiness, pure love. The frieze concludes with a choir of angels singing in paradise and the powerful image of a kissing couple.