One of the last works renowned Austrian artist Gustav Klimt ever painted is going up for auction at Sotheby’s in London on June 27 – where it is expected to fetch a record-breaking $80 million.
Dame mit Facher (Lady with a Fan) was one of two works found in Klimt’s studio at the time of his death in 1918. The portrait was last up for sale almost thirty years ago in 1994, when it was acquired by the family of the present owner.
If sold at its estimated value at Sotheby’s Marquee Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction, Dame mit Facher will be the most valuable painting ever to have sold at auction in Europe and one of the most valuable portraits ever to have come to auction worldwide.
Klimt is mostly known for his ornate and symbolic portraits of fashionable Viennese matrons, such as Portrait of Fritza Riedler (1906) and Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907).
The Kiss (1908-09) is Klimt’s most recognisable work, exemplifying the aspects of his decorative style of painting, reminiscent of Byzantine art.
Characterised by his highly stylised linear designs, Klimt used gold paint and semi-precious gems for ornamentation. Due to this decorative linear style and his romantic compositions, Klimt’s paintings have remained very much part of popular culture.
Unlike many of his portraits, however, this work wasn’t a commissioned piece. Dame mit Facher was painted at the prime of Klimt’s practice and for his own interest and experimentation as an artist.
This is evident in the expressive brushstrokes and lines in the work, with a looser approach to the patterns in the background. It reveals Klimt’s decision to move away from a more formal style that he applied in previous paintings.
The portrait's model is a fashionably dressed, unidentified woman holding a fan, revealing a bare shoulder as she looks out beyond the frame.
“The beauty and sensuality of the portrait lies in the detail: the flecks of blue and pink which enliven the sitter’s skin, the feathery lines of her eyelashes and the pursed lips that give her face character,” said Thomas Boyd Bowman, head of impressionist and modern art at Sotheby’s London.
“Klimt here gave himself full freedom to capture on canvas a devastatingly beautiful woman. Her provocatively bared shoulder, poise and quiet self-assurance combine to stunning effect.”
Klimt’s influence from Chinese and Japanese art and culture is evident in the painting.
The kimono the sitter wears, the fan she holds and the motifs in background, such as the flying phoenix and the lotus blossoms, reflect Klimt’s interest in Chinese culture. Meanwhile, the flattened background and application of patterns reveal influence from pictorial ideas and concepts seen in Japanese woodblock prints.
The painting is square in format, which is unusual for painted portraiture. However, Klimt chose a square form over the traditional vertical for his most avant-garde or experimental paintings.
Historically, Klimt’s work has sold for over $100m at auction. His landscape work Birch Forest sold for $104.6m last year at Christie's auction house while his Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912) made $87.9m in 2006, also at Christie's, and later sold privately in 2016 for a reported $150m.
The Sotheby’s Marquee Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction will take place in London on June 27.
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
