The Vienna Secession held an exhibition in 1902 dedicated to honoring Ludwig van Beethoven. Alongside various works inspired by his music, the German sculptor Max Klinger’s Beethoven was prominently displayed in the central hall of the Secession building. Klimt himself created the Beethoven Frieze, a three-sided mural painting that depicts parts of Friedrich Schiller’s ode in the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 as the human journey from suffering and struggle to ultimate salvation. Elements of Symphony No. 9 were played at the exhibiton opening under the conduction of the Viennese composer Gustav Mahler. Josef Hoffmann, a fellow Vienna Secessionist, oversaw the exhibition’s overall design.

While some praised their innovation and boldness, others were critical of the exhibition, feeling uncomfortable with such radical approaches. Nevertheless, the Vienna Secession did realize the Gesamtkunstwerk ideal by allowing all elements of the exhibition, including painting, sculpture, music, and design, to come together and offer viewers a total experience and special appreciation of art.