Gustav Klimt Painting Sells for $236.4M as Most Expensive Modern Art

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Gustav Klimt‘s legacy just got a little greener.

A painting by the Symbolist artist, titled Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, recently sold for $236.4 million, including fees, at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on November 18th.

A remarkable moment occurred at the auction when bidding for the stunning oil painting of Elisabeth Lederer—a piece commissioned by her parents, August and Serena Lederer, who were major supporters of the artist Klimt—quickly climbed above $150 million. The intense bidding war lasted about 20 minutes and involved six different potential buyers.

Klimt’s painting sold for a very high price, making it the second-most expensive artwork ever sold at auction. It was also the most valuable modern painting, surpassed only by Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, which went for $450.3 million in 2017.

Who bought the painting remains a mystery. The auction house hasn’t revealed the buyer’s identity.

This painting was among the last completed works by Klimt, created between 1914 and 1916. He passed away in 1918 at the age of 55 from a stroke.

Gustav Klimt is famous for his “Golden Phase” paintings, such as The Kiss and Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I. However, this particular painting stands out because it mainly uses shades of blue and orange.

At just twenty years old, Elisabeth sat for a portrait wearing a close-fitting top and a pleated dress, with a floral shawl around her shoulders. The artist captured her with rosy cheeks against a backdrop of blue. He then added touches of pink and orange, and surrounded her with colorful patterns.

Klimt’s interest in Japanese art is visible in the artwork’s background, featuring figures dressed in kimonos and traditional Japanese motifs like swirling patterns and wave designs.

Besides reflecting the artist’s personal preferences, the painting of Elisabeth Lederer helped him carry on a long-term artistic endeavor that spanned multiple generations.

According to Sotheby’s, this is the second in a series of three portraits the artist painted of women from the Lederer family, spanning three generations. It’s a unique collection of private commissions, unlike anything else he created throughout his successful career.

Elisabeth’s clothing, like the colors and designs in the painting, reveals a lot about her. It suggests her social status, a blend of modern and classic styles, and her personal flair combined with a worldly outlook.

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2025-11-20 00:47