A New Way to Show Art

The Secession didn't just make new art — it changed how art was shown. Instead of cramming canvases frame-to-frame up the wall, they hung fewer works at eye level, with space to breathe.

For their 1902 show they went further: Klimt painted a 34-metre mural, the Beethoven Frieze, straight onto the walls. The whole room became one artwork, designed to be walked through.