Art -> The Most Expensive Paintings in the World -> The Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II

The Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II» was painted by Gustav Klimt in 1907. It also known as "Golden Adele" or "Austrian Mona Lisa." This painting is one of the most important paintings by Klimt. Moreover it is one of the most important paintings in Austrian Art Nouveau as a whole. In 2006 the painting was bought for $ 135 million by an American businessman Ronald Lauder. He was eager to open a new gallery in New York. Looking attentively at the picture, we can observe that the picture is centered on one person. The hands and face, realistically painted in cool colors are dominant, standing out from the rest of the elements, full of ornamental. The composition of the canvas is divided into two vertical parts. Adele Bloch-Bauer is on the right side, the left side is almost empty and contains only a hint to the background. The most important part of the picture the sitter’s dress occupies. Gustav Klimt did not want to render the meaning of depth, preferring flatness. The painter centers the admirer’s look on the woman that occupies the whole space of the picture. The painter creates a contrast of colors: the black, cleaned up hair and big red mouth with the extremely pale, almost white and blue appearance. The color of the dress is diminished by the shawl. It flows, extending from the hands to the bottom of the picture. The picture is dominated by the golden tones. The painter used a symbol. Some holes are inscribed in a triangle (the symbolism of "all-seeing eye"). The light green color has a function too, it offers the sitter stability. It is necessary to point out that Adele Bloch-Bauer (1881-1925), daughter of director general of the Vienna Bank Union Moritz Bauer, at the age of 26 years is depicted here. They belonged to the wealthy Jewish bourgeoisie layer. Among the artists who supported the family Bloch-Bauer was Gustav Klimt, who became friends with Adele Bloch-Bauer. In 1903, Klimt received from Ferdinand Bloch an order to draw the portrait of his wife. In later years the artist created over 100 sketches for the painting. All the sketches were drawn in black chalk. Today this portrait is one of the most recognizable and expensive paintings.

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