Elfis Salon: Das Stempelfräulein

Friederike Beer, the daughter of the owner of the famous Kaiserbar, took acting lessons after school and became a model for the garments of the Wiener Werkstätte. Since her childhood, she had been friends with the industrialist’s son and painter Hans Böhler, who portrayed the seventeen-year-old as “Standing Female Nude” (1908). The painting was exhibited at the Vienna Secession.

Both families opposed their relationship, yet in 1912 Böhler had an apartment furnished for his girlfriend by Josef Hoffmann. As Böhler’s lover, Friederike Beer associated with many artists of the Vienna Secession. In 1914, Egon Schiele painted her portrait. According to Beer’s own statement, Hans Böhler promised her a special gift in 1915—a pearl necklace. Instead, however, she wished for a portrait by Gustav Klimt. Klimt initially hesitated, but when Fritzi replied, “Through a Klimt portrait, I want to become immortal,” he accepted the commission.

The portrait was completed in early 1916.