He passed his examination due to his very distinct art style. At this point Klimt had become determined to be a master of the arts, a decision that would greatly impact his city of Vienna.
Klimt lived through the evolution of Vienna. His formal training began during a time referred to as the Ringstrasse Era. Vienna was embracing art, the city had taken on a more eclectic style and soon after, the Golden Age of Industry began where industry and science became the most prominent aspect of society. Vienna's rapid evolution could be the reason for Klimt's goal to transform the way the world was seen through his depiction of the interconnection between the natural world and the artificial world.
Gustav's career began at age twenty when he graduated from the University of Plastic Arts in Vienna. After his graduation, Gustav, his brother Ernst, and a fellow student and friend of the brothers, Franz Matsch, founded Känstlercompanie studio. The three then worked as muralists where Gustav was able to rekindle his decorative and modern style. They were indeed successful, but the death of Gustav's brother Ernst and disconnection with Franz caused the company to end their business. But Gustav continued on after another tragedy to bigger and better things. In 1897 Gustav's interest in politics took over and from there he rallied up other artists and started the Vienna Secession. The Vienna Secession consisted of artists such as: Klimt, Koloman Moser, and Josef Hoffmann. These artists were people who broke away from the status quo of society, they resigned from the Vienna Association of Artists (hence the name 'Vienna Secession) and created their own style known as 'Secession Style' or Art Nouveau. This group started a revolt against the conservative attitude that the academics of the art world had. They were against commercialism, they believed that commercialist ideas hindered the purity and flowering of art.