Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II - Gustav Klimt

A 1912 portrait by Gustav Klimt featuring Adele Bloch-Bauer in a tall, elegant pose, set against a backdrop of East Asian-inspired motifs and floral patterns.

Painted in 1912, this work represents the second portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Unlike the earlier 1907 portrait, which is defined by its extensive use of gold leaf, this composition shifts towards a more varied, painterly approach. The subject stands in a vertical, elongated pose, wearing a large, dark hat and a long, light-coloured gown draped with a fur-trimmed stole.

The background displays a distinct departure from Klimt's earlier decorative style. It incorporates elements inspired by East Asian art, specifically Chinese motifs, which appear as small, floating figures and structures against a flat, red upper section. Below this, the composition transitions into a green, floral-patterned area that suggests a garden or textile backdrop. The floor is rendered with a mosaic-like quality, featuring circular, colourful shapes that anchor the figure within the space.

Klimt employs a flattened perspective, typical of his later period, where the subject and the decorative elements exist on a similar visual plane. The brushwork is varied, moving from the precise rendering of the face to the looser, more expressive application of paint in the background and floor. This portrait captures the fashion and aesthetic sensibilities of the Viennese bourgeoisie during the early twentieth century. It remains a significant example of Klimt's ability to integrate portraiture with complex, non-Western decorative influences, moving away from the rigid symbolism of his earlier work toward a more fluid, atmospheric representation of his sitter.