Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

"Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I," completed in 1907 by Gustav Klimt, is a seminal work of the Viennese Secession movement, commissioned by Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, a wealthy industrialist, and depicts his wife, Adele, adorned in a lavish gown that integrates gold leaf and intricate patterns, characteristic of Klimt's "Golden Phase." The painting gained significant attention due to its restitution to Maria Altmann, Adele's niece, following a protracted legal battle, as it had been seized by the Nazis during World War II, and it now resides in the Neue Galerie in New York.

"Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" by Gustav Klimt, created in 1907, is a square composition measuring 138 cm by 138 cm, characterized by its opulent use of gold leaf and intricate patterns that envelop the figure of Adele Bloch-Bauer. The painting features a richly adorned subject seated against a backdrop of geometric and organic motifs, with Klimt's signature style blending Byzantine influences and Art Nouveau elements to create a sense of both luxury and ethereal presence.