Emilie Flöge and Gustav Klimt at Litzlberg Attersee (Early 1900s)

Emilie Flöge (1874 – 1952 ) was the life companion of the painter Gustav Klimt (1862 – 1918). In 1891, Helene, the younger sister of Emilie, married Ernst Klimt, the brother of Gustav Klimt. When Ernst died in December 1892, Gustav was made Helene’s guardian. At that time Emilie was eighteen years old and Gustav became a frequent guest at the home of her parents, spending the summers with the Flöge family at Lake Attersee.

Klimt died from a stroke on 11 January 1918. His last words reportedly were, “Get Emilie”. She inherited half of Klimt’s estate, the other half going to the painter’s family.

In the final days of the Second World War, her house in the Ungargasse caught fire, destroying not only her collection of garments, but also valuable objects from the estate of Gustav Klimt.

Gustav Klimt with Emilie and Hermine Flöge on a jetty in Litzlberg Attersee, 1906 via

Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge, 1900s via

Emilie Flöge, Gustav Klimt, Therese Flöge, Emma Bacher, Rudolf Schuh and Paul Bach, Litzlberg Attersee, 1904 via

Rudolf Schuh, Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge, Litzlberg Attersee, 1906 via