- Gustav Klimt (after), authorized offset lithograph on textured matte paper (300gsm approx.). - Signed in the plate. - Stamp on verso. - Embossed stamp. - Condition: very good. Never framed, never exposed. - Size of each: 43 x 43,5 cm - Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent figures of the Vienna Secession movement. He is best known for his highly decorative, sensual, and psychologically intense portraits, often featuring gold leaf, intricate patterns, and dreamlike compositions. Klimt’s work explored themes of femininity, eroticism, and nature, blending Symbolism and Art Nouveau influences. His "Golden Phase", which includes masterpieces such as "The Kiss" (1907–08) and "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" (1907), remains his most celebrated period, marked by the use of gold leaf and Byzantine-inspired ornamentation. His works are among the most valuable in the art market, with some of his paintings selling for over $100 million at auction. His "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" was sold for $135 million in 2006, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold at that time. "Women Friends" (Freundinnen) was one of Klimt’s later works, created between 1916 and 1917. The piece depicts two women in an intimate embrace, surrounded by exotic patterns and elements that reflect Klimt’s signature style. One woman is nude, leaning on the other, who is elegantly dressed in a vibrant orange robe. Their close posture suggests intimacy, affection, or even a deeper emotional connection. The work incorporates Japanese and Chinese-inspired motifs, visible in the phoenix, decorative textiles, and exotic patterns. The background is dominated by warm pinks and reds, giving the composition a dreamlike, almost ethereal quality. Like many of Klimt’s works, this one explores themes of female companionship, sensuality, and psychological depth, characteristic of his late period. Unfortunately, "Women Friends" no longer exists. The original painting was destroyed during World War II when Schloss Immendorf, the castle where it was stored, was set on fire by the retreating Nazi SS troops in 1945. Several other Klimt paintings suffered the same fate, making this work an irrecoverable loss to art history. Despite its destruction, "Women Friends" remains an iconic representation of Klimt’s late period, showcasing his transition towards more expressive forms and fluid compositions. Artists of similar importance: Picasso, Hockney, Lichtenstein, Warhol, Banksy, Brainwash, Delaunay, Nara, Soulages, Lagasse, Ramos, Coa, Dior, Vuitton, Lautrec, Basquiat, Hirst, Chagall, Koons, Haring, Indiana, Mondrian, Groening, Richter, Monroe, Herrera, Laurent, Klein, Kusama, Murakami, Testa, Villemot, Oldenburg, Hopper, Ripolles, Wesselmann, Magritte, Jenk, Orlinski, Wille, Rizzi, Manara, Thiebaud, Kaws, Valentino, Cappiello, Rothko, Dalí, among others.