As soon as my husband and I decided to go to Vienna, I knew that I had to go to the Belvedere Palace Albertina Art Museum to see Gustav Klimt’s most famous painting,The Kiss. I read The Painted Kiss years ago, and looked forward to seeing some of Klimt’s paintings in person. Before we even walked in the door of the museum, we saw this truck. Everyone thought I was crazy taking a picture of a truck, but I could not resist. Just wait until you see what else I took a picture of!
Yes, this is the door to the ladies rest room. On it hangs a picture of another Klimt painting. This one is a portrait of Johanna Staude. I wonder how she would feel about her place on the bathroom door! (I refrained from checking out the door of the mens room.) The Klimt exhibition was wonderful and The Kiss was magnificent.
The Painted Kiss is based on the life of Gustav Klimt, a controversial painter known for his erotic paintings of women, and his relationship with Emilie Floge. Emilie, who started as Klimt’s art student, became so much more. His model, his mistress and his life long friend. Like The Girl With The Pearl Earring, The Painted Kiss is about the artist, his relationships and his paintings. After seeing these beautiful women come to life in Klimt’s paintings, I look forward to reading The Painted Kiss a second time. If you are interested in art and like historical fiction you will enjoy The Painted Kiss.
Friday Morning Bookclub 