The recently rediscovered portrait of Prince William Nie Norte Dowuona, painted by Gustav Klimt in 1897, was thought lost since 1938. Its reappearance at the TEFAF art fair in Maastricht, offered for $15 million, has shocked the art community. Art dealers Wienerroither & Kohlbacher, specializing in Klimt, initially struggled to recognize the painting beneath years of grime. Upon cleaning, the piece clearly emerged as a significant work, illustrating Klimt's transition from realism to a more modern style. The portrait is hailed as a key example in Klimt's oeuvre, marking the avant-garde movement's beginnings.
Alois Wienerroither noted that even with decades of expertise on Klimt, the heavily soiled painting initially appeared unrecognizable, highlighting the importance of careful examination.
Gustav Klimt's portrait of the West African prince exemplifies a transition in his artistic style, merging realism with hints of modern elements that would define his later works.
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