Gustav Klimt portrait found after almost 100 years

The long-lost ‘Portrait of Fraulein Lieser’ by Gustav Klimt, unseen since 1925, was recently found in Vienna after nearly a century.

The ‘Portrait of Fraulein Lieser’ – last seen in public in 1925 – has been discovered in Vienna.

The portrait of Fraulein Lieser, once in the possession of a Jewish family in Austria and last publicly seen in 1925, has emerged with uncertain whereabouts thereafter. However, the painting has been in the possession of the current owners’ family since the 1960s. Estimated by the im Kinsky auction house to be valued at over $54 million (£42 million), its rediscovery is deemed a significant event.

The auction house describes the finding as “a sensation,” citing the painting’s rarity, artistic significance, and considerable worth, which has been absent from the Central European art market for decades. Scheduled for auction on 24 April, the portrait will be presented internationally in the UK, Switzerland, Germany, and Hong Kong, in adherence to the Washington Principles, which aim to return Nazi-looted art to its rightful descendants.

Originally belonging to the Lieser family, prominent Jewish industrialists in Vienna, the portrait’s provenance investigation by Ernst Ploil, co-Managing Director of Kinsky Auction House, has not uncovered evidence suggesting looting or theft before or during World War Two.

Despite being cataloged as lost in comprehensive lists of Klimt’s work, efforts to recover the painting have led to its unexpected reappearance. Klimt’s artworks have historically commanded significant sums at auctions.

The oil painting, titled ‘Portrait of a Lady,’ resurfaced in the most unexpected place. Hidden away for all this time, this masterpiece is now back in the spotlight, captivating art enthusiasts and historians alike. This discovery has sparked renewed interest in Klimt’s work and left everyone in awe of the beauty that was hidden for so long. Stay tuned for more updates as the story unfolds!