Latest news with #GustavKlimt
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Nishtha Bansal's debut weaves Klimt, couture, and the power of peonies
Chandigarh-based designer Nishtha Bansal is making her debut in couture with her latest collection titled 'Alchemy of Love', inspired by Gustav Klimt's iconic painting 'The Kiss'. 'That painting has so many emotions—it reminds me of something really special in my life,' she says. 'And the colours in it—those reds, greens, and that golden shimmer—I've brought those directly into my collection.' More than just visual inspiration, the painting stirred something deeper in her. 'It's not just about the art, it's about how it made me feel,' Bansal explains. 'There's this long-held emotion in my heart that shaped how I understand love, intimacy, and beauty. That's what I wanted to pour into the collection.' The title itself hints at transformation. 'Like an alchemist turns metals into gold, love has the power to turn vulnerability into strength, longing into creativity,' she says. 'This collection is me trying to distil that magic into something wearable.'
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Christopher Moore Gives Out ‘Cannery Row' to Convert Steinbeck Haters
In an email interview, the author of comic novels about Jesus ('Lamb') and Death ('A Dirty Job') shared what drew him to write about the artists Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. SCOTT HELLER What books are on your night stand? 'The Village of the Vampire Cat,' by Lensey Namioka, and 'The Destroyer of Worlds,' by Matt Ruff. And I'm rereading my own novel 'Noir' because I'm writing another book with those characters. Describe your ideal reading experience. Settling on the couch in our screened-in porch in Ohio, under a blanket, during a summer thunderstorm, with a novel that completely immersed me in the story. Because I was about 11, I'd guess it was a Jules Verne novel. What's the best book you've ever received as a gift? Very early in our relationship my wife gave me a first edition of Steinbeck's 'Cannery Row,' my favorite novel of all time. It's the book that taught me to write with forgiveness and humor toward my characters and I'm eternally grateful for that lesson. (I always buy extra copies when I'm at a used-book store to give out to people who were ruined for Steinbeck by having to read 'Of Mice and Men' in high school.) Why do you think 'Lamb' has proved such a favorite among your readers? I think it's funny, it gives readers a sense they're doing something slightly naughty, like giggling during Mass, then they get a rush of vindication when they find out the book is sweet. 'Lamb' humanizes Jesus and allows the reader to see this character, not as the son of God, but as a likable, earnest and somewhat confused young man, through the eyes of a friend who loves him for those qualities, not because he 'saves the world.' What's the last great book you read? I've recently reread 'Don Quixote.' Cervantes illustrates the folly of chivalry and romance, while being entertaining and lyrical, and, I think, showing that there is value to aspiring to nobility of spirit. Maybe that's just what I want it to say. What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet? 'Pride and Prejudice.' I have seen numerous screen adaptations, so I know the story, but I'm relatively sure I'd get distracted while reading by trying to figure out how to plausibly get Elizabeth to become a ninja. What's your favorite book no one else has heard of? 'Last Days of Summer,' by Steve Kluger. It's a very funny epistolary novel set in the 1940s, about a kid who keeps writing to a baseball player on the New York Giants, pretending to have different diseases and begging the player to hit a home run for him. This feels like a moment in time that calls for satire. Why turn to the past instead? One, I really enjoy writing and I don't want to spend a moment more thinking about our current political situation than I have to. Two, the current reality seems so absurd I don't know how I could send it up. Everything is so profoundly stupid. Why Klimt and Schiele? Klimt because I admired his paintings, and Schiele because he was Klimt's protégé. But it started with wanting to write about Vienna in that period because it was a genius cluster: Klimt, Mahler, Freud, Richard Strauss, Walter Gropius, not to mention political figures like Trotsky, Tito, Stalin and Hitler. I picked 1911 because that's the year Schiele met Klimt's model, Wally Neuzil, and the relationship between painters and models would be central to the story. In real life, was either of them especially funny? Klimt wrote almost nothing about himself, or his art, for that matter, so it's hard to say, but there are a lot of photographs where he's dancing and celebrating, so it seems he very much enjoyed life. Schiele did write about himself and his art, and he seems very dour and self-critical, so not funny. In my book, the women in their lives are the funny ones. How much cultural history do readers need to know to appreciate 'Anima Rising'? If you've seen pictures of Klimt's work in books or online, and have some idea of the time period, the rest will fill in. It helps if you've read the original 'Frankenstein' or have seen an adaptation that's close to the novel, but I think 'Anima Rising' will work even if you don't have that background. What's the last book you read that made you laugh? 'Spook Street,' by Mick Herron. Your favorite book about art or an artist? Kurt Vonnegut's 'Bluebeard.' What's the most interesting thing you learned from a book recently? From one of Ben Aaronovitch's 'Rivers of London' novels, I learned that when they put the Underground through the city, they had areas where the trains came out of the tunnels to the surface, and they only demolished the backs of buildings to accommodate them. So there are houses in London that are nothing but brick facades of Victorian buildings. How do you sign books for your fans? Happy reading. Your pal, Christopher Moore
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Sale of a $32 Million Klimt Portrait Falls Through
The sale of a $32 million portrait by Gustav Klimt has fallen through, according to the Austrian paper Der Standard. The painting's anonymous buyer in Hong Kong withdrew from the sale last month after a private restitution settlement did not go ahead. In 2024, Klimt's Portrait of Fräulein Lieser (1917) sold for €30 million, €35 million with fees, ($32.15 million, $37.51 million with fees), on the lower side of its presale estimate of €30 to €50 million. The sale was still a record for Austria, where the auction took place at im Kinsky in Vienna. More from Robb Report Frieze Was Just Sold to Former Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel The Sistine Chapel Will Be Closed Indefinitely Ahead of the Papal Conclave Two Incredible Private Art Collections Are Heading to Auction. Here Are the Best Works From Both. Der Standard reported the anonymous buyer was represented at the auction by Patti Wong & Associates (Hong Kong). The painting was previously lost for nearly 100 years, and was only known from a black-and-white photo taken in 1925. Gaps in its provenance, especially around World War II, resulted in the im Kinsky auction house working to arrange a settlement between the consignor, a private Austrian citizen, and the heirs of the Lieser family for a share of the sale. According to Artnet News, the consignor of Portrait of Fräulein Lieser inherited the painting in 2022. However, the decades between 1925, when the black-and white photograph showed the artwork in possession of the Lieser family, and 1961, when Portrait of Fräulein Lieser was recorded in the possession of the consignor's family were unclear. It's worth noting this period includes the Anschluss, when Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany between 1938 and 1945. The Nazis heavily persecuted Austria's Jewish population and hundreds of thousands of people were forced to emigrate. Dispute over the identity of the sitter of Portrait of Fräulein Lieser, as well as multiple claimants to ownership of the painting before and after its sale led to the anonymous buyer attempting to negotiate indemnification settlements with all known heirs of Adolf and Henriette Lieser for 60 percent of the sale proceeds. While almost all of these agreements between the buyer and the various heirs were successfully obtained, one ultimately refused to sign a deal, resulting in the painting's sale failing, according to Der Standard, Der Standard also estimated that the cost to the im Kinsky auction house for the failed sale 'were likely to amount to at least' €1.5 million ($1.7 million). Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
Washington Post
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Unearthed Klimt painting, first dismissed, now on sale for $16 million
An oil painting of an African prince created by the Austrian master Gustav Klimt, unearthed in recent years and almost dismissed for not looking like one of his more famous works, is now on sale for $16.32 million (15 million euro). The 1897 oil painting named after its subject, Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona, was first displayed at the European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht, the Netherlands, this past Thursday and already has several interested parties, including a museum and private buyers, said Lui Wienerroither, co-owner of Wienerroither & Kohlbacher, the gallery selling the piece.
Korea Herald
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Eternal beauty
Beyond the glitter An immersive exhibition highlighting work by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, best known for portraits decorated with gold leaf, is taking place through March at Groundseesaw Myeong-dong in Seoul. The 50-minute multimedia show 'Gustav Klimt: Timeless Beauty' showcases paintings by Klimt. He was a founder and the first president of the Vienna Secession, a 19th-century artist group that sought a new balance of art and design that was less influenced by state patronage. The show walks through the life of the painter, who started out with a conservative style, before taking a more rebellious approach as a Symbolist painter that won him widespread acclaim -- a path that took a sudden turn when his painting 'Philosophy' was met with a hostile reception. Paintings 'Jurisprudence' and 'Medicine,' just as controversial at the time, are also portrayed in the show. How Klimt came to be best identified with portraits and what led many to find fresh perspectives in his erotic depictions of women are discussed during the 50-minute narrative divided into eight sections. There are nine viewing sessions daily between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The session's last 15 minutes recap all the paintings shown, the only time allowed to take photos. Japanese master of black-and-white photography For those interested in photography, "Theatre of the Dunes," an exhibition of works by Japanese photographer Shoji Ueda at piknic in Seoul, is a good one to appreciate black-and-white photographs by the late artist (1913-2000). Born in a rural town in Tottori prefecture, the artist stayed in his hometown his whole life. The Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography, a museum dedicated to the artist, is also located in his hometown. The seashores and sand dunes in his iconic photographs were among the photographer's favorite locations for his works. Viewing Ueda's photographs, some may be reminded of surrealist artists such as Salvador Dali or Rene Magritte. After viewing the exhibition, visit Kafe piknic, a cozy cafe on the first floor, to reflect on the exhibition. The exhibition runs until March 2. Piknic is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Cafe supporting pet adoption, animal welfare Pawinhand in Gyeongui Forest, a cafe and adoption culture center, offers a space where visitors can enjoy coffee while supporting pet adoption. Located along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park near Daeheung Station in Seoul, this cafe doubles as a platform for rescuing and adopting stray animals. All profits from the cafe, as well as the sales of merchandise, go toward supporting adoption initiatives and promoting the welfare of abandoned animals. Dogs are allowed at the cafe, open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and guests can choose where to sit between the space where dogs that are up for adoption live or the main seating area of the cafe. Visitors can find cards displaying information about stray animals awaiting adoption. The menu offers a variety of beverages, including coffee, tea, juices and fresh lemonade. An Americano costs 4,500 won, and for pet owners, there's a special treat called "Mungpuchino" for their furry companions. The cafe also sells cute merchandise such as stickers, keychains and T-shirts. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these items is donated to animal welfare initiatives. The cafe enforces a two-hour time limit for seating. Pawinhand in Gyeongui Forest is an ideal stop for anyone interested in adopting a dog.
