38 - Vienna Secession - Gustav Klimt. Ex libris of the Association of Austrian Visual Artists. Secession. Lithograph on paper. Circa 1899. 9.6 × 4.6 cm (10.8 × 5.7 cm). Monogrammed on the stone.

Vienna Secession - Gustav Klimt. Ex libris of the Association of Austrian Visual Artists. Secession. Lithograph on paper. Circa 1899. 9.6 × 4.6 cm (10.8 × 5.7 cm). Monogrammed on the stone. Auction start time: approx. 12:21 p.m. (schedule subject to change) “Gustav Klimt derived the graphic motif of a woman’s head—covered with a Greek helmet and adorned at the neck with the head of the Gorgon—directly from his 1898 painting *Pallas Athena*. The Secessionists saw the figure of the warrior Pallas Athena as a symbol of the defense of artistic freedom. In this respect, the use of this motif for the Secession’s ex libris had a programmatic character and was linked to Klimt’s prominent role within the Secession, of which he served as the first president from 1897 to 1899. Furthermore, the print appeared twice in the magazine *Ver Sacrum*, Volume 1900, Issue 1—on the cover in red and on page 5 in black. Finally, Klimt also chose the motif of Pallas Athena for the poster of his major group exhibition in the fall/winter of 1903–04, as well as for the cover of the catalog for that exhibition.” (Leopold Museum Vienna, Object 1739, online archive). - In impeccable condition; on the reverse, a red stamp reading “S” with two angle brackets, from the estate of a Berlin printing firm associated with the Steglitz workshop. Mounted on Art Nouveau-style colored paper. - Backing cardboard with the collector’s stamp “Coll. Dr. L.”