Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) was one of the most important representatives of the Viennese Art Nouveau movement. He was a co-founder of the Vienna Secession and served as its first president from 1897 to 1899. He became famous for his ornamental style, characterized by decorative patterns and the use of gold leaf. Along with the Beethoven Frieze, works such as the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1903–07) and The Kiss (1907–08) remain among his most celebrated paintings today.