15. Alma Mahler
Alma Mahler, an Austrian composer and muse, was renowned for her passionate and often tumultuous relationships with prominent figures of early 20th-century Europe. After the death of her husband, composer Gustav Mahler, she engaged in a fervent affair with painter Oskar Kokoschka, which inspired his renowned painting, “The Bride of the Wind.” Their intense relationship ended in 1914, leading Alma to marry architect Walter Gropius in 1915. Following their divorce in 1920, she married writer Franz Werfel in 1929. Alma’s love life was marked by rapid and intense affairs, leaving a trail of emotional upheaval among her partners. For a comprehensive examination of her impact, refer to this New Yorker article.
