"People that are interested in these trophies, they've made so much money in the last five or ten years that I don't see that whether they spend $150m or $200m changes much for them. What I find fascinating is, why do they stop [bidding]?"
"There are so few people who can collect at that level; there's always been a deep divide between Klimt's millions of fans and what collectors actually can afford to buy."
"he's also really the last hurrah of the Belle Époque before the First World War ends it all. It's the last vestiges of symbolism and the new world coming."
Gustav Klimt's portrait of Elisabeth Lederer (1914–16) sold at Sotheby's New York for $205m (total $236.4m with fees), achieving a landmark price for the artist. Dealers describe the painting as a full-scale Klimt and a trophy picture sought by ultra-wealthy collectors able to absorb six-figure millions. Market observers note a persistent gap between Klimt's vast popular appeal and the small cohort of buyers who can afford top works. The portrait's provenance as the daughter of Klimt's principal patron amplifies its cultural resonance with pre–First World War Vienna and the closing chapter of the Belle Époque. Recent comparable sales include Lady with a Fan (1917) at Sotheby's London for £85.3m (with fees).
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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