Kirche in Cassone

This painting belongs to Gustav Klimt’s late landscape period, when he shifted away from gold-decorated figures toward nature. Created during his summer stays near Lake Garda, it reflects a quiet and meditative observation of place. Klimt uses dense, mosaic-like brushwork to flatten space and reduce the village into patterns of color, texture, and rhythm. The absence of people enhances a sense of stillness, turning the scene into a contemplative surface rather than a traditional landscape.

Beyond its visual qualities, the painting carries a complex history. It was once owned by prominent collectors and later became entangled in the disruptions of World War II, when many artworks were displaced or lost. Decades later, its ownership was resolved through a restitution agreement involving the heirs of the original owners. In 2010, the painting was sold at auction for over £25 million, reflecting both its rarity among Klimt’s landscapes and its historical significance.