The hyper-inflation of works by Gustav Klimt defies rational explanation. In the 1950s, a good Klimt canvas went for $5,000.
Last night someone paid $40.4m at Sothebys New York for a common-or-garden lakescape of the Attersee, where Klimt and Mahler spent their summers, Mahler in the early 1890s (2nd and 3rd symphonies), Klimt a bit later. See here for further connections.
Klimt, idle, painted lots of Attersee views. And the price just keeps rising. Here’s CultureGrrl on the bidding war.
Recent Comments
Alexandra Ivanoff on ‘I defaced Richard Wagner’s statue’
Gottfried Wagner recently came to Istanbul to share the stage with Idil Biret, one of Turkey's treasured pianists, for a...Martin Angell on Media pressure is mounting on British music schools
Does anyone know if this problem is unique to British music schools? I guess other countries have such schools: do...momixou on Berlin’s Akademie der Künste calls for reinstatement of Nazi-themed Tannhäuser
This stage director and his helium -inflated ego with a half-witted setting are typical of the way in which opera...MarK on Video: The worst mistakes ever made by the greatest pianists
Your point, RH, is valid, but your concluding simile seems inappropriate for the following reason: multiple memory slips cannot possibly...Fabio Fabrici on What Boston can expect of Andris Nelsons
Eight weeks a season is not a real Chief conductor position. It's only a face on the PR flyers. It's sad...Fabio Fabrici on Berlin’s Akademie der Künste calls for reinstatement of Nazi-themed Tannhäuser
There is a place for everything. If I go to the opera I do not want a psychopathic projection of...MarK on A Fright of Spring – 24 hours unbroken Sacre bleu….
In response to RH and SM: my comment from May 14 said "after 1910" and i acknowledged that there is...Bob Thomas on A composer admired by Copland and Bernstein has gone to rest
The Previn/LA Phil recording came out of an initiative funded by AT&T called "American Encore" (I think). Its purpose was...Richard on Another sea-change in Boston
What are you guys smoking? The BSO was stagnant and in shambles when Ozawa left. Then we had the "wait...Angela Giblin on An Attenborough aims for the Gove-rnment jugular
Good on him. When will people wake up?!