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43rd out of 305 books
—
485 voters
The Painted Kiss
In this passionate and atmospheric debut novel, Elizabeth Hickey reimagines the tumultuous relationship between the Viennese painter Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge, the woman who posed for Klimt's masterpiece The Kiss -- and whose name he uttered with his dying breath.
Vienna in 1886 was a city of elegant cafés, grand opera houses, and a thriving and adventurous artistic com...more
Vienna in 1886 was a city of elegant cafés, grand opera houses, and a thriving and adventurous artistic com...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
March 7th 2006
by Washington Square Press
(first published 2005)
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Recently watched a program on Ovation highlighting the controversy surrounding the rightful possession of Gustav Klimt’s portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer and some of his other works. Wanting to keep the art theme current, I decided to read this book, which chronicles the life of Emilie Flöge, the sister-in-law and long time companion of Gustav Klimt. Historically, no one really knows how deep their relationship went, but during his final illness, he wanted her by his side. It’s also speculated that...more
Warning to potential readers: if you are one of those readers who likes to read the last few pages of a novel before actual starting to read the story, DO NOT do so in this case! You will greatly diminish the haunting conclusion.
Although published seven years before The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, The Painted Kiss makes an excellent fictional companion piece to O'Connor's history. Klimt is Hickey's protagonist and the psychi...more
Although published seven years before The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, The Painted Kiss makes an excellent fictional companion piece to O'Connor's history. Klimt is Hickey's protagonist and the psychi...more
this book surprised me.
i knew it was about Gustav Klimt's mistress... I bought it on a whim about five years ago, but haven't felt like reading something that could be potentially trashy (? should I EVER feel like that?).
WELL, it wasn't at ALL. there was one brief scene that was over before I even knew it, and it doesn't color my impression of the book at all. especially since it WASN'T a revisited theme. There were points that I wondered, "are they STILL not together?" I guess they were the w...more
i knew it was about Gustav Klimt's mistress... I bought it on a whim about five years ago, but haven't felt like reading something that could be potentially trashy (? should I EVER feel like that?).
WELL, it wasn't at ALL. there was one brief scene that was over before I even knew it, and it doesn't color my impression of the book at all. especially since it WASN'T a revisited theme. There were points that I wondered, "are they STILL not together?" I guess they were the w...more
Beginning very rich in period detail. Also loved the characterization of Emilie Floge as a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. But then she grows up and becomes a dishrag for Klimt and you lose all respect for her as a character. The real Emilie obviously possessed some measure of inner strength as a woman. She made her own way in the world at a time when this was virtually unheard-of for a bourgeois woman, never marrying, opening her own fashion salon, etc, but you never feel like the author c...more
Sin pretender ser tan clasificatorio, creo que hay libros para niñas y libros para niños. El beso pertenece definitivamente a la primera categoría: La historia de Emilie Flöge creciendo desde los 12 años en Viena, marcada desde el primer momento por su encuentro con Gustav Klimt, que se convierte en su maestro de dibujo. Chicas: aqui encontrarán romance, época, diseño y modas de finales del S. XIX y principios del XX, todo ello aleteando al lado del ambiente que rodeaba la vida de los artistas y...more
It's been a few years since I've read this, but I still remember it fairly well. If I could give it a 3.5 I would. Overall, it was quite interesting and an enjoyable read. The one drawback for me was that I never felt much of an emotional connection to the characters beyond what I already felt for Gustav Klimt from his work. Emilie Flöge is very interesting and I really enjoyed the idea of their relationship, of which not much is known except that they must have been quite close. Overall, I'd be...more
This book was so wonderful. I love art history and historical fiction and this is some of the best of it! This book is told from an insider's perspective and lets us see into the live and loves of Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt. To be more accurate, the story is actually about Klimt's sometimes-lover, Emilie Floge. We get to follow her throughout her life and see how it intertwines with Klimts, how she falls in love with him, has her heart broken by him again and again, and ultimately has her nam...more
During the past decade Gustave Klimt's paintings made headlines as families and European museums attempted to reclaim the art lost during the Nazi regime. Several of the paintings featured in prominent lawsuits were discussed in this book---not from the perspective of who has the legitimate claim to them now, but as a glimpse into the life of the artist and his models as the works were created. It was both fun and enlightening to have that perspective, even in a fictional setting.
The story of Kl...more
The story of Kl...more
An entry into the genre of books-about-famous-men-from-the-point-of-view-of-women-in-their-lives.
I love Klimt, and the whole arts-and-crafts movement that he was involved with. Oh, can I just say Art Nouveau? "Arts-and-Crafts" sounds like they were sitting around knitting and making macaroni mosaics or something. By coincidence, it was right after reading this that I went to see an exhibit of jewelry from the period at the Forbes Galleries. http://www.forbesgalleries.com/jewelr... SWOON! Now THA...more
I love Klimt, and the whole arts-and-crafts movement that he was involved with. Oh, can I just say Art Nouveau? "Arts-and-Crafts" sounds like they were sitting around knitting and making macaroni mosaics or something. By coincidence, it was right after reading this that I went to see an exhibit of jewelry from the period at the Forbes Galleries. http://www.forbesgalleries.com/jewelr... SWOON! Now THA...more
On the cover of Elizabeth Hickey's The Painted Kiss is Gustav Klimt's portrait of Emilie Floge, the woman whose name was on his lips when he died. This novel is narrated by Emilie as she remembers in 1944 and 1945 the Vienna of the late 19th and early 20th century. She introduces the reader to not just Klimt and Josef Hoffman but to Adele Bloch-Bauer, Alma Mahler (Gropius Werfel)and other leaders of bohemia in the Vienna of Secession days.
Lots of interesting gossip and opinion about people and e...more
Lots of interesting gossip and opinion about people and e...more
I found this book in my mother's closet and it caught my eye because of the cover. It sounded interesting, but I wasn't expecting much. I couldn't put the book down. It is a historical fiction based on the relationship between Gustav Klimt and what is believed to be his muse, Emilie Floge. I loved the way Hickey represented that Floge was a very, strong and independent woman for her time. The book also made me think more about Klimt's paintings and the models who sat for him. I I will have to ad...more
There's nothing wrong with this at all. It's a nice, witty escape, not badly-written, and certainly a vivid period piece. Pleasant, historical gossip.
It's a strange day when the little girl whose christening dress you made starts bossing you around. p. 105
It took a week and two pieces of caramel cake for me to forgive Gustav. p. 127
I love you, I didn't say. Instead I suggested we have lunch. I had brought smoked mackerel and rye bread. p. 171
At parties like this Berta didn't mingle; she sat in a...more
It's a strange day when the little girl whose christening dress you made starts bossing you around. p. 105
It took a week and two pieces of caramel cake for me to forgive Gustav. p. 127
I love you, I didn't say. Instead I suggested we have lunch. I had brought smoked mackerel and rye bread. p. 171
At parties like this Berta didn't mingle; she sat in a...more
No spoilers:
I absolutely adored this book. My modem/computer was down this afternoon and so rather than looking at GR, it was just me and the book, and Oscar of course. I love the book b/c although much is conjecture about the relationship between Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge, I totally believe the author's interpretation. There is a clear author's note. Emilie Flöge was the model for Klimt's painting The Kiss, and it was her name that he spoke when he died. Their relationship feels authentic....more
I absolutely adored this book. My modem/computer was down this afternoon and so rather than looking at GR, it was just me and the book, and Oscar of course. I love the book b/c although much is conjecture about the relationship between Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge, I totally believe the author's interpretation. There is a clear author's note. Emilie Flöge was the model for Klimt's painting The Kiss, and it was her name that he spoke when he died. Their relationship feels authentic....more
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So brilliantly written and so entrancing. I did not realize until the author's note at the end, that the characters were real and it was an historic fiction....in such that though the characters existed, one can never know for sure the emotions and interactions, so comes the fiction....It was a remarkable story that took place in the late 1800s into 1945 Vienna.......Always appreciative of art (my favorite painter is Lord Frederick Leighton), I was astonished to find Gustav Klempt's beautiful pa...more
The Painted Kiss explored the life and artwork of Gustav Klimt and the role Emilie Floge played in it. Emilie is just a young teenager when Klimt paints her portrait. She is fascinated by him as she takes weekly drawing lessons. She observes his lifestyle and the daily goings-on in his studio. Her fascination turns to love but she knows that he would never be monogamous. She devotes much of her life to haute couture establishing one of the prime salons in Vienna. She becomes a socialite in the...more
Historical novel set in the 1880s through 1940s Vienna. The author tells a fictional account of Emilie Floge and Gustav Klimt and their life as freinds and companions. Klimt was a rebellious artist and painter. Floge was a dressmaker for wealthy women of the day. Theirs was not a traditional love affair but, as the author states, "the aim of historical fiction is not to render the past exactly as it happened but to imagine it as it might have been." May favorite kind of book. Good imagery.
I very much enjoyed "The Painted Kiss," especially for the setting--Ms. Hickey paints a wonderful portrait of late 19th- & early 20th century Vienna (pun only somewhat intended), finding it a fun and enjoyable read. My only complaints with the book were a few issues with the narrative. I wasn't really crazy with the method of narrative--jumping back and forth between present day (in the case of this story, WWII) and flashbacks. I personally don't care for this narrative method that generally...more
This book, historical fiction about the life of Emilie Floge (who posed for Gustav Klimt's painting "The Kiss"), was thoroughly enjoyable and a quick read. Hickey weaves in many of the artists and architects from the Secession and captures life in late 20th century Vienna. I less enjoyed the chapters interwoven from the perspective of Emilie in World War II, looking back on her life, but I still enjoyed the images, the good writing, and the story.
Clearly a debut novel, this book suffers from several things, least among those is character development. The story alternates between two distinct time periods: 1944 and the late 1800s. Predictably, 1944 is all about escaping, rationing, making do, and black-out curtains. It's a storyline that's been done before and better and really only serves as a distraction in this novel. The earlier period begins in 1886 when Emilie Floge meets Gustav Klimt. Somehow, the 12-year-old Emilie falls under the...more
Aug 09, 2011
Jennifer Karch Verzè
added it
The book was a revelation for me. So many wonderful antecdotes, stories of Klimt, his life, Emilie's life, life during the era of the Vienna Sucession. I've done exhibitions about this time period, but have never penetrated the epoch like this book has done. It makes me want to go back and do art history research in this way. Highly recoomended and in fact has been chosen by me for our Book Club.
Historical Fiction novel narrated in the first person by Emilie Floge about her life and relationship with the artist Gustav Klimt. Hickey does a good job dramatizing the friendship/romance between the two (of which not much is known) and bringing to life to world of Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. Readers who enjoy historical fiction about the woman behind the famous man (i.e. Loving Frank, The Paris Wife, The Girl with the Pearl Earring) will enjoy this.
I really enjoyed reading this book! As I was going along I was always googling information from it so I could be better informed from an historical outlook. What a fascinating time. I had studied Klimt in art history classes but really did not know that much about him. I know want to see his work in person and am watching the movie Klimt. I appreciate the story of Emilie as she was so intergral to Klimt's life and there is not much known about here. The book also encourages looking for works abo...more
Mar 20, 2011
Theresa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Monica
Shelves:
history-period-pieces,
foreign-places
I picked this book from the historical fiction table at the library. The only reason I checked it out was because I saw 3 or 4 copies on the table-I figured it must be good. I was pleasently surprised. I have never really read a book about art history or Austria, so I learned a lot. The book was well written and kept me interested throughout. I would recommend this book. :)
I loved this novel, but don't you wish it happened this way, about the life of Gustav Klimt and his muse, Emilie. You get a picture of life in Jewish aristocratic, turn of the century Vienna as well as a good feeling for Klimt and his circle. It is based on facts, but filled in by the authors imagination.
I found it fascinating.
I found it fascinating.
So inspiring...I want to run off to an art museum and inspect paintings with a new eye. I keep wondering what Emelie is not telling us. Her father seems to have loved and respected her, where did she get the desperation for Gustav? I feel fulfilled with intimately knowing while still living in the deeper mystery. Glorious.
It's annoying to read about works of art in books that do not have reproductions. Even though I'm probably more familiar with the works mentioned than most readers would be, it makes me want to see them while I'm reading. I also had some emotional distance from the characters-never a good thing. I did enjoy it though and was close to giving it 4 stars.
Swept me along with an insight into the arts society of Vienna in the late 1880's and the life of Emilie Floge who was a protege/lover of painter Gustav Klimt. I also liked the way the author brought in other famous people at that time, e.g. Gustav Mahler, the composer, and others. Very stylish and easy read.
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I grabbed this at the Powell's book outlet in the airport before my return flight the other day...it prompted thoughts of my dear friend, Betsy who just adores the famous painting of the title--and I think the book will suit her, too. I'm sending it to her--hopefully it will be a fun read as she is dealing with cancer treatments.
A pretty strong historical novel, with interesting characters, lovely details of everyday life/society life over some tumultuous years in Europe. I found the Author's ta...more
A pretty strong historical novel, with interesting characters, lovely details of everyday life/society life over some tumultuous years in Europe. I found the Author's ta...more
As an art museum docent, I am always on the lookout for books that fill out and personalize my understanding of the artist. This book is told through the eyes of Gustav Klimt's muse, Emilie Flöge, the woman who posed for Klimt's masterpiece The Kiss -- and whose name he was alleged to have uttered with his dying breath. Klimpt met Emilie when she was 12 years old and she became his lifelong friend, muse - although whether she was ever one of his many mistresses remains a mystery. Not only is thi...more
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Mar 10, 2012 08:40am