A Well-Curated Life: Gustav Klimt

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt, 1907. On display at the Neue Galerie, 1048 5th Avenue.

Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a beautiful and historically significant Art Nouveau painting. The wife of an Austrian sugar magnate, Adele Bloch-Bauer is the only model to have been painted twice by Klimt. Her first, and most well-known, portrait was completed in 1907. The piece is a striking example of Klimt’s unique style. The artist eschews representational color and form, favoring instead elaborate patterns and ornamentation. Brilliant jewel-toned colors peak out from the sheets of sparkling metallic, enchanting the viewer with symbols, hieroglyphs and mosaics of color and light.

The painting’s history and provenance have been the subject of much controversy. Nazis stole the piece from the Bloch-Bauer family in 1938. Marie Altmann, Adele Bloch-Bauer’s neice, fought for ownership of the stolen work. Altmann was finally named the rightful owner of the portrait in 2006. She subsequently sold the painting to Robert Lauder, founder of New York’s Neue Galerie.

I tried to capture Klimt’s sumptuous color palette and playful embellishment in the Inspiration Board below. There is a richness of texture in his paintings that is echoed in the velvet, fur, and hammered metals.

Clockwise from left:

ABS by Allen Schwartz One-Shoulder Sequined Dress, $335 at Bloomingdales.
Embossed Dot Bangle, $28 at Topshop.
Black faux fur wrap by Etsy seller alexbridal, $59.99 on Etsy.com.
Classic Murano glass bracelet, $48 on Tensanremo.com
Rolling Gems Ring, $98 at Anthropologie.
Edie Velvet Chaise in Ink Blue, $579 at Urban Outfitters.
Gold Glam Ceramic Bowl, $49.95 at Pier 1 Imports.
Black Lacquer Console Table not available for sale.

Want more inspiration? You can view Gustav Klimt’s work at several museums in New York. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is currently on display at the Neue Galerie. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has two beautiful portraits on view, including the ethereal Serena Pulitzer Lederer. The stunning Hope, II is part of MOMA’s permanent exhibition.

If you’re interested in the theft and recovery of Klimt’s famous portrait, then you should watch the film Adele’s Wish or read the book The Rape of Europa, an excellent account of the widespread art looting during World War II.

 

Art Binge Gift Guide: Artists in Training

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali, 1931.

Channel the creative power of Dali’s infamous mustache with this fun t-shirt from Etsy seller WrenWillow, $24 at etsy.com.

Let little imaginations run wild with Blanko Art Toys. This ultra-hip version of Mr. Potato Head allows kids to construct and decorate an unlimited number of whimsical figures and forms, $24 on uncommongoods.com.

Flik Flak has bright, colorful watches that help teach time with the added perk of being melt-free, $55 on store.swatch.com.

It’s never too early to tap into the subconscious. Pave the way with a fun journal like this Scribbling Monster Diary from Mudpuppy, $10 on galison.com.

 

Claude Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil by Auguste Renoir, 1873.

Got a budding Art historian on your hands? Let Linnea teach her about Paris and Impressionism, $19.95 at barnesandnoble.com.

I love that this portable tabletop easel comes packed with art supplies, $49.98 at hearthsong.com.

Create your own Giverny with this adorable gardening set, $14.99 at backtobasicstoys.com.

Accessories make the artist. Kids wool beret, $24 at kangolstore.com.

 

Kaleidoscope VII by Damien Hirst, 2004.

The Optical Illusions Squzzle Puzzle is a kaleidoscopic brain teaser, $7.99 on amazon.com

Unfortunately, they won’t all grow up to be Francophiles. Union Jack shirt by etsy seller charlieandsarah, $22 on etsy.com.

Hirst’s diamond encrusted skull may be worth $100 million, but this blinged-out iphone case by etsy seller crazyberry will earn you a million cool points on the playground, $12.50 on etsy.com.

Great white shark replica toy (tank and formaldehyde not included), $11.99 on anwo.com.

Art Binge Gift Guide: The Art of Stocking Stuffing

ArtHistory101‘s Etsy shop features t-shirts, buttons and magnets for the ultimate art nerd. The Art History Knee Slapper set is pictured above. Only $3.00 for the playful pair.

The perfect little pencil pouch to stash brushes, erasers, and well, pencils. $14 at American Apparel.

I love this cute yet practical Artist’s Mini Survival Kit. $6.25 on dickblick.com.

Another Etsy find, this greeting card serves double-duty as a finger puppet of everyone’s favorite Impressionist, Claude Monet. $3.25 at DearDeerDesigns.

These classy little sketchbooks never go out of style. Moleskine Sketchbook Pocket, $9.60 on amazon.com.

Candy-colored samples of Bond No. 9’s infamous scents are sweet treats. I recommend the trio of Warhol eau de parfums. 6 for $15 on bondno9.com.

This fun twist on the traditional artist’s manikin is a whimsical addition to any studio or cubicle. Plus it’s great for sketching. Cat Manikin, $10.99 on dickblick.com.

Street sweets! The Chocolate Bar’s Graffiti Bars are wrapped in labels designed by some of New York’s most famous graffiti artists. $3.50 each at store.chocolatebarnyc.com.

Art Binge Gift Guide: Make an Impression

The Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, c. 1873-78.

Classic Capezio ballet slippers with a punk rock twist, $48 at bonadrag.com.

Essie’s Ballet Slippers nail polish, $8 on essieshop.com.

Dainty, girly, and perfectly pretty, this lace headband by Etsy vendor dawsonlovely will have you stage-ready, $39 on etsy.com.

Anna Sui Rococo Dahlia Print Tight. A pretty update for the modern ballerina in a gorgeous Impressionist color palette. $31 at Zappos.com.

 

The Absinthe Drinkers by Jean François Raffaelli, 1881.

Absinthe Handmade Vegan Soap from Etsy vendor crownofrue, $4 for one 4 ounce bar.

Channel your inner flaneur with these top hat cufflinks, $34.99 at amazon.com.

The perfect little tumbler for your nightcap in a delicious shade of absinthe green, $12 each at Anthropologie.

A Taste for Absinthe: 65 Recipes for Classic and Contemporary Cocktails has everything you need to turn your apartment into an Impressionist hot spot, $17.99 at Barnes & Noble.

 

A Corner of the Loge by Mary Cassatt, 1879.

White Poise Gloves from Modcloth, $12.99 at modcloth.com.

Oh la la! The perfect beaded clutch for 21st century nights out on the town, $28 at urbanoutfitters.com.

Rock the mezzanine in style with these white and gold opera glasses, $44.95 at bhphotovideo.com

Handmade note cards by Etsy vendor TurtleDoves emblazoned with a drawing of the Paris Opera House set against a pretty French blue background, $7.95 for a set of 4.

Check back next Thursday for more art-inspired gift ideas. Be Merry!