In the fourth season premiere episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a group of vampires steal a poster from a freshman dorm room. They then take bets on whether it will be a Monet or a Klimt; it turns out to be the latter, and is added to a collection of Waterlilies and Kisses. The lead vampire’s response? "Freshmen. They’re so predictable." 

I’ve always been both amused and annoyed by this scene. On one hand, it is a pretty accurate description of dorm art. On the other, it pokes fun at two of my favorite artists. I too have a large print of Monet’s waterlilies, which I purchased more than 10 years ago at a fantastic Monet exhibit at the New Orleans Musem of Art. I also have a framed Klimt print, but it isn’t The Kiss. It’s Expectation, which seems to be a far less popular work. My husband doesn’t like it, so my copy is in storage in the attic, but I think it’s a beautiful, fascinating piece. Ever wanted to know more about Gustav Klimt? Here’s a short bio, courtesy of Grove Art Online:

Klimt, Gustav

(b Baumgarten, nr Vienna, 14 July 1862; d Vienna, 6 Feb 1918).
Austrian painter and draughtsman. A leading exponent of Art Nouveau, Klimt is considered one of the greatest decorative painters of the 20th century. His depictions of the femme fatale and his drawings treating the theme of female sexuality have assured him a place in the history of erotic art. He is remembered for his role in the formation of the Vienna Secession, the radical group of Austrian artists of which he became the first president in 1897, and also for the frequent scandals and protests that marked his later career. These contrast strikingly with the public and official approval that marked him out as a young artist of promise, even before he graduated from the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule in 1883.