Gustav Klimt did a number of portraits, especially of women, in his career. However, there was only one woman whom Klimt actually painted twice. That woman was Adele Bloch-Bauer, the wife of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer who was a wealthy business man and supporter of Klimt paintings. The more famous of these two portraits is the first one, which was done during the height of Klimt’s golden period.
The second portrait was painted by Klimt in 1912, five years after the first one. It offers a very different palette from the golden painting of 1907. Instead, we see Adele Bloch-Bauer in a rather bland grayish robe, as she stands in the middle of the painting. The robe itself seems inspired by the Japanese arts and styles that had already made quite an impact in European art. Standing among flowers, a parade of sorts seems to be taking place in the background. The background colors and fairly subdued, unlike in the first portrait where the golden colors shined. The symbolism is also less obvious, though the combined use of men and flowers offers a few interpretations in this regard in the painting.
“Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II” was sold on auction at Christies in 2006 for USD 88 million. As such, it is among the most expensive paintings in the world.
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