KLIMT
This is probably the Nazi’s worst crime against the history of art. Ironically, their death gives them an ethereal quality, which somewhat adds to their allure. If I were to see them in their original colors, it might change my interpretation. However, as they are, I cannot see them as anything other than bleak depictions of the afterlife, where one loses their individuality and joins the human collective.
In Philosophy, the woman in the background is the most obvious example of this. She's one with the void. It even seems like she may be becoming one with the universe itself. Otherwise, the other figures in this piece all form a collective glob of bodies. We can see no faces on anyone here, so they have lost the identity that they may once have had. I think it’s also possible that they could have forgotten their past identity.
In Medicine, we do see the faces of some individuals, while others are replaced with skulls. Two of the women seem as though they have regained some of their humanity (the naked woman on the left, and the decorated one on the bottom). The figures are also more distinct than in Philosophy.
Despite the suffering seen in all three of these pieces, Jurisprudence seems hopeful. The one woman on the left seems peaceful in her rest. The woman in the back looks more annoyed than suffering. In the background also, it looks like some of that ornate art nouveau decoration that Klimt is associated with is sneaking back into the image. However, the other two figures look as if they are suffering a lot more. I believe this suggests that the afterlife may not be as bleak as it may seem. These individuals seem to treat their predicaments differently. So depending on one's outlook, eternity can be completely different. They may be lost in non-existence, but at least in this painting, they aren't all trapped in the fog.
This precursory reading of the paintings hinges on the assumption that this is the intended order of the paintings. This reading makes sense to me based on what little I know of Klimt's other work, but also because of the way the names of the paintings sound in this order (by their definitions I mean). However, if you read the paintings in reverse order, it would effectively be the opposite story. Losing your individuality in death and becoming just part of the fog. This is a more realistic story to me, but I have no idea what Klimt would've believed.
Since the creator of these works and the works themselves are both dead, I think it’s ultimately pointless to speculate on exactly what they mean. Since we're working on incomplete information, viewing them as they are is how I believe you should interpret them. But everyone's entitled to the interpretation that suits them best, I guess. There is one thing I'm certain of, however. These are the coolest fucking paintings Klimt ever did, even if they aren't very pleasant to look at.
-JAKEY