Artists never seem to retire

“Do not go gentle into that good night…”

Dylan Thomas

Gustav Klimt produced some of the most important female portraits of the 20th century. His most famous were the so called Golden Phase paintings, from the last decade of his life. Typically these are women engulfed in a surround of collage, oriental themes and gold leaf. This painting is Dame mit Facher (Woman with Fan), Klimt’s very last work. Indeed it was still on his studio easel at the time of his death. Klimt died at age 56 in 1918. He was a victim of the post WW1 Spanish Flu outbreak. His infection was complicated by a significant stroke and the finishing of this piece, before succumbing to pneumonia was a supreme act of willpower. Many artists we have discussed , Kahlo, Rothko, Matisse and now Klimt, have managed to work furiously as their health deteriorated. Retirement doesn’t seem to be a thing for artists. #somuchartsolittletime #letsmakelemonade