Gustav Klimt - Water Nymphs (Silver Fish), 1899 (detail)
My return to Vienna called for another visit to the Albertina museum.
The famous Albertina Wurstelstand stand selling frankfurters and champagne outside the Albertina museum has had the surreal addition of a large green hare on top since my last visit. I didn't make the connection initially, but on going into the museum realised it alluded to Albrecht Dürer's celebrated watercolour - Young Hare, an undisputed jewel in the Albertina collection, and the retrospective of Dürer's drawings which had recently closed.
Albrecht Dürer - Young Hare, 1502
The museum's collection of 20th C. art remains strong, and I found I still admired many of the paintings seen on my last visit (here) from the Rita and Herbert Batliner collection with a couple of new additions.
Henri Matisse - The Striped Dress, 1938
Heinrich Campendonk - Horses by a Lake, c.1915
Max Beckmann - Woman with Cat, 1942
Greta Freist - La Danseuse, 1938
Franz Sedlacek - Ghosts in the Tree, 1933
Joannis Aramidis - Medium-Sized Figure II, 1959
Fernand Léger - Two Profiles, 1928
Paul Klee - Realms of Plants, Earth and Air, 1921
Alberto Giacometti - Standing Nude, 1947/48
Max Ernst - Le Silence à travers les âges, 1968
Constantin Brancusi - La Negresse Blonde, 1933-1986
Joan Miró - Birds and Insects, 1938
Joan Miró - Woman in Front of the Sun, 1949
Francis Bacon - Seated Figure, 1960
Edgar Degas - Two Dancers, c.1905
Gustav Klimt - Water Nymphs (Silver Fish), 1899
The one difference on the occasion of this visit to the Albertina though, was the display of this beautiful Gustav Klimt painting - Water Nymphs (Silver Fish), which wasn't on show during my last visit. It was a real thrill and unexpected surprise to see it here. It is one of my favourite paintings by Klimt, and I hadn't realised how small it would be from the illustration of it in a book of Klimt's work that I have. I have long admired Klimt's representation of these femmes fatale-style mermaids, and the strangely surreal and ethereal way in which he has captured them, seemingly without limbs. Finally getting to see this little gem of a painting in the flesh was definately one of the highlights of my trip.
Gustav Klimt - Water Nymphs (Silver Fish), 1899 (detail)
Gustav Klimt - Water Nymphs (Silver Fish), 1899 (detail)
Gustav Klimt - Water Nymphs (Silver Fish), 1899
After visiting the upper galleries I made my way down to an exhibition of more recent large contemporary works held in the lower gallery spaces. At the entrance was this huge, gorgeous gold leaf painting but sadly there was no information about its creator. There were many works by young, contemporary Viennese artists and many by well established names. The Albertina has now opened a separate annexe a short stroll away - Albertina Modern - dedicated to displaying its collection of modern art. Good reason, (if any were needed), for yet another trip to Vienna.
Andy Warhol - Vintage Racing Cars
Anselm Kiefer - A.E.I.O.U, 2011
Anselm Kiefer - In The Storm of Roses is the Night, 2014
Alex Katz - Trio 4, 2009
Albertina Museum
Albertina Platz 1
1010
Vienna
