Jaeger-LeCoultre makes use of the reverse dial facet of its swiveling Reverso case as a canvas to breed work in miniature by three nice masters: Gustave Courbet, Vincent Van Gogh and Gustav Klimt. All three of the work had been at one level misplaced or stolen—after which discovered once more. The faces of every are guilloched in several patterns after which coloured to match the spirit and concord of the work on the “hidden” reverse facet.
The works within the Reverso Tribute Enamel Hidden Treasures trio had been chosen not solely due to their intriguing provenance however as a result of the artists had been energetic when the Reverso was launched in 1931. It was a watershed second within the Western inventive custom, from the Nineteenth-Century Realism of Gustave Courbet to Vincent Van Gogh’s Publish-Impressionism, to the expressive and experimental spirit of Gustave Klimt and the Viennese Secession.
“We wished the story to be related to the gathering and to the watchmaking crafts that had been coming into use on the time, equivalent to guillochage, but additionally with a pleasant angle,” says Catherine Rénier, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre. “The complexity of the miniaturization was a problem,” she says. “We approached the museums internet hosting the work at present to debate the finer factors of the interpretations, and the colours, and many others.” Jaeger-LeCoultre established its personal in-house enameling atelier within the Nineteen Nineties.
Courbet’s View of Lake Léman (1876) on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest Reverso watch.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
The Courbet piece, View of Lake Léman (1876), captures a view of Lake Geneva close to Vevey, Switzerland, the place Courbet lived after being exiled from his native France in 1873. He was impressed by the always altering views throughout the water and painted the lake many instances. The piece in query was hung in a small museum together with a number of minor works by minor artists. It was found by a curator, who took it to an knowledgeable who confirmed it was real. Courbet painted with a blade moderately than a brush, which supplies his works a particular fashion. The dial facet of the Reverso Courbet mannequin is adorned with herringbone guilloché texture, and coloured misty gray-blue.
Van Gogh’s Sundown at Montmajour (1888) on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest Reverso watch.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
The Van Gogh portray, Sundown at Montmajour (1888), is an instance of the artist’s quest to painting nature in new methods, capturing the distinctive vegetation of Provence and the wealthy colours of the golden hour simply earlier than sundown. This portray is claimed to have been hung by a non-public proprietor in his residence, and {that a} visiting visitor dismissed it as a pretend. The proprietor banished it to the attic. It was found years later by his household, who took it to the Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Consultants analyzed it and decided the pigments had been precisely the identical as these Van Gogh used and deemed it real. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s grasp painter faithfully reproduced the artist’s robust sense of perspective, signature brush stroke and heavy impasto, a way that makes use of thick layers of paint that elevate above the canvas. The dial facet is adorned in a sunray barleycorn guilloché sample and coloured a shade of inexperienced to enhance the wealthy gold and russet tones of the portray.
Klimt’s Portrait of a Girl (1917) on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest Reverso watch.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
The Klimt portray, Portrait of a Girl (1917), is the one identified “double” portrait by the Viennese artist, painted over an earlier work. Klimt had fallen head over heels in love with a younger lady who turned his muse, then out of the blue died. Making an attempt to ease the ache of his loss, he painted over her portrait with a brand new one, of a special girl. She bears the identical modern outfit and chic pose that’s attribute of Klimt’s work. Within the late Nineteen Nineties, the work was set to be exhibited at a gallery in Italy however was stolen earlier than the exhibition opened. It was found a couple of days later by a gardener engaged on the property. It had been stashed within the crevice of a stone wall below some ivy, inside a black, waterproof bag. It was in excellent situation.
Every of the Reverso Tribute Enamel Hidden Treasures is restricted to 10 items and incorporates the handbook wound caliber 822/2, with a 42-hour energy reserve. The circumstances measure 45.6mm x 27.4mm, with a 9.73mm thickness. They’re mounted on black alligator straps and priced at $107,000.
