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Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (Woman in Gold)

Gustav Klimt · 1907

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CULTUREPICK · MASTERWORK MAGNIFIER

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (Woman in Gold)

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

Gustav Klimt · 1907
Collection Neue Galerie New York · New York
Original 2,801 × 2,801px

The woman in this painting held a $100 million secret

Key Points

The masterpiece of Klimt's Golden Phase
A painting containing the love and fate of a Jewish couple
Stolen during the war, recovered after a court battle
Sold for $100 million, setting a world record price

Reading the Work

What's Depicted

This is Klimt's portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. She sits wearing rich, flowing hair and golden garments. Her eyes reveal a calm yet powerful sense of identity. The entire painting is covered in gold, giving it a striking radiance.

Into the Painting

Klimt used gold in the painting to emphasize a sense of the sacred. Gold is scattered across her face and clothing, making her appear almost divine. The background is filled with intricate patterns and geometric forms that heighten visual interest. Her hands are rendered with particular care, emphasizing her identity.

Why It's a Masterpiece

This is the masterpiece of Klimt's Golden Phase, the work in which his style reached its peak. The gold in the painting symbolizes both sacredness and love. It represents Klimt's artistic achievement in art history. This painting has had a great influence on modern art.

Commentary source: Neue Galerie New York · Public domain
Image: Public domain · Original on Wikimedia Commons
Viewer: OpenSeadragon (BSD)

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