Klimt’s Unfinished Masterpiece Sells for $32 Million in Vienna
A rare and unfinished portrait by Austrian modernist Gustav Klimt has been sold at auction in Vienna for an impressive 30 million euros ($32 million). The ‘Portrait of Fräulein Lieser’ is believed to be one of Klimt’s final works, painted in 1917, the year before his death. The identity of the young woman depicted in the portrait remains uncertain.
The painting, with its vibrant colors and distinctive style, was commissioned by the Lieser family. However, its whereabouts during the Nazi era are unclear. In view of the uncertainty surrounding its provenance, the current owners and the Lieser family’s heirs agreed to proceed with the sale under the Washington Principles, which provide guidance on the restitution of Nazi-confiscated art.
The ‘Portrait of Fräulein Lieser’ was left unfinished in Klimt’s studio at the time of his death. It was then given to the Lieser family, who later fled Austria after 1930 and lost most of their possessions. The painting’s journey through the following decades remains shrouded in mystery.
The auction house handling the sale, Im Kinsky, has stated that no evidence suggests the painting was confiscated by the Nazis. However, there is also no proof that it was not. The painting eventually came into the possession of the current owners through three successive inheritances.
The sale of the ‘Portrait of Fräulein Lieser’ has generated significant interest in the art world, highlighting the enduring appeal of Klimt’s work and the complexities surrounding the restitution of art looted during World War II.
