Poster - Gustav Klimt, Water Snakes II
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Poster Gustav Klimt, Museum-quality Water Snakes II with vibrant prints on matte paper. Add a wonderful accent to your room and office with these posters that are sure to brighten up any environment.
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm
• Paper weight: 189 gsm
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO Brightness: 104%
• 21cm×30cm posters are A4 size
• Paper sourced from Japan
Water Snakes II
Gustav Klimt's famous 1907 oil painting "Water Snakes II" is one of his masterpieces that expresses his distinctive artistic style and his exploration of the beauty of women. It is a continuation of the theme of "Water Snakes I" and deals with sensuality and same-sex relationships.
One of the main features of the painting is a group of water nymphs depicted on the canvas with a heightened sense of sensuality and desire. Two nymphs in the foreground are completely naked, while the other two in the upper right corner only show their heads. It is a mythological depiction, but some interpretations suggest that it represents a representation of a lesbian encounter.
The "Water Snakes II" are important not only because of their artistic expression, but also because of their historical context. During the turbulent period of World War II, the painting was owned by Jenny Steiner, but fell victim to Nazi confiscation and ended up in the possession of Gustav Ucicky, a Nazi filmmaker.
After the war, the painting resurfaced and hung on a wall in Ucicky's apartment in Vienna. In 2012, Ursula Ucicky, Gustav's widow, decided to sell the painting through the Sotheby's auction house. The sale required an agreement with Jenny Steiner's heirs, which resulted in the proceeds being used to establish the New Klimt Foundation.
The story takes a new turn with the "Bouvier affair". Yves Bouvier sold the painting to Dmitri Rybolovlev in 2013, manipulating the transaction and profiting immensely. The subsequent revelation led to litigation and lawsuits and made waves in the art world.
Today, "Water Snakes II" has changed hands again and is in the private collection of an unnamed Qatari princess or an Asian buyer. The painting, which has been exhibited in renowned museums such as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, continues to captivate art lovers and is a testament to Klimt's enduring artistic legacy.
Gustav Klimt
Blog article: About life and artistic legacy
