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Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer

Gustav Klimt · 1914–1916

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CULTUREPICK · MASTERWORK MAGNIFIER

Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer

Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer

Gustav Klimt · 1914–1916
Collection Private collection (sold at Sotheby's, 2025) · New York
Original 2,048 × 2,833px

The secret behind Klimt's "most expensive painting"

Key Points

Painted by Klimt between 1914 and 1916, it is the most expensive modern artwork
The story hidden in the fashion and symbolism worn by a model from a Jewish family
Elements of Chinese and Japanese art within the painting drew attention in art history
The fate of a model who survived war, displacement, and Nazi persecution
A painting Klimt never finished, later a stunning success at auction

Reading the Work

What's Depicted

Between 1914 and 1916, Klimt painted the 20-year-old Elisabeth Lederer. She was the daughter of the Lederer family, wealthy Viennese Jews, and this was the second portrait Klimt painted of the family after his portrait of her mother, Serena Lederer. She wears a white skirt and blouse, draped with a rich, floral-patterned shawl. Her clothing reflects the style of Parisian fashion designer Paul Poiret.

Into the Painting

In the painting, Elisabeth wears a white skirt and blouse, draped with a rich, floral-patterned shawl. Her clothing reflects the style of Parisian fashion designer Paul Poiret. The background blends elements of Chinese and Japanese art. Klimt also incorporated Chinese cultural motifs and figures from Peking Opera into the painting. The painting's colors clearly display Klimt's late style.

Why It's a Masterpiece

This painting is a masterpiece that clearly demonstrates Klimt's late style. It skillfully blends elements of Chinese and Japanese art. The fashion and background of the figure reflect the fashion and artistic trends of Europe at the time. This is one of the paintings Klimt left unfinished, and it later achieved a stunning success at auction.

Commentary source: Sotheby's · Public domain
Image: Public domain · Original on Wikimedia Commons
Viewer: OpenSeadragon (BSD)

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