Musing On Art - Klimt And Adele Bloch Bauer

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At a recent creative relaxation class I attended at a local community centre, Steph, the tutor presented us with copies of just the head and shoulders details of Gustav Klimt’s famous painting of Adele Bloch Bauer from 1907. Bauer was a favourite model to Klimt, and this portrait sets the wealthy Viennese lady in a dress and background of gold. The portrait was later seized by the Nazis who disliked Bauer’s Jewish background but loved the portrait, so they renamed it The Woman In Gold. Most of those attending the workshop used the supplied pencils and coloured pens, felt tips, etc., to create new portraits around the limited details we were given to work with, and produced some quite beautiful work. Not being an artist, I used my writing talents instead, and what follows is the text the fragment – elements of the portrait inspired for me. Adele Speaks Make of me what you will, like one of those magazine or breakfast cereal cardboard dolls children dress in cut out and fold dresses and other outfits. I could become an Egyptian Mummy, a Sphynx or as plain white as the paper you leave blank here. Just don’t confuse me with the pop-singer Adele. I look semi-Pre-Raphaelite as it is, or a literal head & Shoulders ad. You can pen in my torso, arms and legs. Please don’t draw me fat. Please do give me clothes. You can see my hands clasped almost in prayer but not quite. I have a brain too, though it is invisible here as is the space where Klimt at least gave me a bountiful head of dark hair. The absence of my mind perhaps symbolises how many men fail to desire to see me think, analyse or feel. My head is detached from my shoulders in the cut and paste detachment from my gold background, but draw in or write in a scarf and you might conjure up the illusion of me having a three dimensional identity. I was Klimt’s favourite model, but even he hid my true form in a sea of golden folds and backdrop. You have the potential to rework me in new guises, a space-goddess, a gangster’s moll, a femme-fatale or even just a boring housewife (please don’t do that). I guess I’m like a police identikit picture now, where you can change my looks, background, height, hairstyle. You could give me glasses or even a moustache. I have no means to stop you. You could bring me to new life, taking me away from the shameful suppression the Nazis imposed. You have me seem to speak in my own voice but my words are really your words, writer. I exist only in your imagination and that of your readers. They say a picture paints a 1,000 words but you seem intent on making the words create the picture, using me as your latest temporary muse and source of inspiration. The rest of me will become as invisible as the rest of my body when you hit your last full stop. I’ll dissolve back to head and shoulders on A4 paper like a cartoon character soaked in vanishing cream. You’ll forget me once the words are written. **** A big thanks to Steph, Verity and everyone who took part in this lovely event at the Ingol Intact Community Centre, Preston . Wikipedia photo of the original Klimt portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer Arthur Chappell