Beauty on a Wednesday

A cool $135 million.  That’s how much Gustav Klimt’s 1907 Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer sold for at auction in 2006, setting a new record.  For an artist who, in his lifetime, was little known outside his native Austria and is still somewhat obscure, that’s a lot of clams.  In his homeland, however, Klimt was famous not only for his glowing, erotic artworks but also for the controversy they sparked.  An unlikely  rebel, he led the secession from the artistic establishment in Vienna and pioneered a style known for its rich patterns and gleaming gold.  We may not know much about him, but we recognize in his art uniquely lush depictions of beauty.

Klimt is probably most well known for his gorgeous The Kiss.

It’s one of my favorite pieces of art.