Barbra Streisand Regrets Selling Klimt Painting as Art Market Soars
A recent reflection on her life as a collector has prompted Barbra Streisand to publicly lament the sale of a Gustav Klimt painting, a decision she now views with regret in light of the skyrocketing art market. The singer and actress shared her feelings with followers on Instagram, highlighting the emotional connection to art and the financial implications of letting go of valuable pieces.
A Glimpse into Streisand’s Collection
Streisand’s passion for collecting began early in her career, as detailed in her memoir, My Name is Barbra. Starting with a reproduction of Rembrandt’s Woman Bathing in a River in a rented New York apartment in 1961, her collection quickly evolved to include original works by masters as her success grew. A 1969 photograph by Lawrence Schiller offers a snapshot of Streisand’s collection at that time, showing her posing in a suite at London’s Claridge’s Hotel alongside watercolors by Egon Schiele and the Klimt painting in question.
The Lost Klimt: “Ria Munk on Her Deathbed”
The Klimt piece, titled Ria Munk on Her Deathbed, is a postmortem portrait commissioned in 1912 by the family of the young Viennese heiress Ria Munk, who tragically took her own life due to heartbreak the previous year. Streisand purchased the painting in 1969 for 17,000 pounds and sold it in 1998, coinciding with a growing interest in the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Arts & Crafts movement.
“You should never sell the art you love,” Streisand advised in her recent post, a sentiment underscored by recent auction results. Just days before her revelation, a portrait by Klimt – that of Elisabeth Lederer, a cousin of Ria Munk – sold at Sotheby’s for a record-breaking $236.4 million. This figure is over two hundred times the estimated value Christie’s placed on Streisand’s Klimt in 1998, suggesting a substantial financial loss. The final sale price of Streisand’s painting remains unknown, but it undoubtedly pales in comparison to current market values.
A Recurring Theme: Missed Opportunities
This isn’t the first time Streisand has expressed regret over a lost artwork. In My Name is Barbra, she recounts a 2013 incident where a dental appointment nearly caused her to miss the auction of Modigliani’s The Jewess. While under anesthesia, she attempted to halt the procedure to bid on the painting over the phone, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
Streisand’s connection to The Jewess is particularly personal. She explains that the portrait of Maud Abrantes, Modigliani’s American lover, resonated with her because Abrantes shared a similar facial feature – a bump on her nose. Modigliani remains her favorite artist, and she has actively sought his work throughout her collecting journey.
The story serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional and financial complexities of art collecting, and the enduring power of regret when a beloved piece is lost.
