Lost and Found
Portrait of Fräulein Lieser, Gustav Klimt, 1917.
Portrait of Fräulein Lieser, created by Klimt in 1917, made its last public appearance in a 1925 exhibition before finding its way into a private collection. For close to a century, the sole evidence of its existence was a simple black-and-white photograph. However, in a recent stroke of luck, the painting has been discovered miraculously intact and in pristine condition.
On a vibrant red backdrop, a youthful woman adorned in a floral robe captivates the eye. “The vibrant hues of the painting and the transition towards freer, more fluid brushwork exemplify Klimt’s mastery during his later period,” remarked representatives from im Kinsky. While the true identity of this woman remains uncertain, there are indications that she could belong to the esteemed Lieser family, prominent Viennese industrialists, particularly Margarethe Constance, daughter of Justus and Henriette Lieser, as proposed by the im Kinsky auction house. However, recent investigations by the auction house suggest that Lilly, Justus’ wife, commissioned Klimt to portray one of their two daughters. Despite being completed in 1917, the painting remained unsigned, hanging in Klimt’s studio. After his death in 1918, the painting was passed to his family. Little information is available regarding the private collection or its owner who acquired the portrait in 1925, although speculation points towards a potential connection with the Lieser family, possibly Adolf or Henriette Lieser. The portrait was then bought in 1960, yet the identity of the buyer remains undisclosed, with suggestions indicating a legal predecessor of the family. Once more, the painting remained forgotten until its rediscovery in 2022, when the owner directly approached the auction house. It would take another two years before the painting was finally presented to the public.
A cameraman takes footage of the painting during a press conference at the Kinsky Art Auction House in Vienna, Austria on January 25, 2024. Roland Schlager/APA/AFP via Getty Images.
The ownership and whereabouts of the painting are unknown between 1925 and 1960. The Lieser family, who were Jewish, faced persecution in 1938 following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. Tragically, Henriette Lieser was among those murdered after deportation to a concentration camp in 1942, and their assets were seized during this period. This likely contributes to the lack of documentation regarding the painting, leading to suspicions of looting. However, Claudia Mörth-Gasser, a specialist in modern art at im Kinsky, has pointed out that there are no archival records supporting the notion that the painting was exported out of Austria, confiscated, or looted. The fate of the painting during the period between 1938 and 1960 remains under investigation, but it is possible that the truth may never be fully uncovered. The painting is scheduled to be auctioned at the im Kinsky auction house in Vienna on April 24th of this year. “A work of such rarity, artistic importance, and value has not graced the art market in Central Europe for many decades,” stated im Kinsky in a release. Before the auction, the painting will embark on an international tour, visiting Switzerland, Germany, Britain, and Hong Kong. With an estimated value ranging between $32 million and $54 million, the painting’s esteemed artist and reputation suggest it may fetch an even higher price at auction.
