Gustav Klimt lived in the sophisticated city of Vienna, a pioneer of modern art and a free-spirited man. Women of the time were also breaking free, often posing for Klimt and, in some cases, having affairs with him. This is Adele Bloch-Bauer, a high-society woman who possibly had a romantic relationship with the painter. In the original painting, she isn’t holding a sandwich or sitting in a caravan—she’s draped in gold. It speaks to the democratic character of Berlin that here she’s portrayed with a sandwich in a caravan. Her dress is beautifully done, still giving her an air of nobility.
The painting, which was designated as Nazi-looted art, was eventually returned to her family, who auctioned it for a record-breaking amount. Mr. Lauder became the owner and, fortunately, hung it in a museum in America.