Artwork
Reclining Woman
Reclining Woman is a crayon drawing by Gustav Klimt. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right artist's stamp (Lugt 1575)
About this work
Overview
Reclining Woman is a drawing attributed to Gustav Klimt, dated to around 1909. Executed in red crayon on a sheet of Japanese paper, the work presents a solitary figure in a relaxed pose. Its modest scale and intimate medium reflect a personal, exploratory side of the artist’s practice during the late‑1900s.
Technique & Style
The piece employs a single red crayon, allowing for fluid, gestural lines that define the contours of the reclining figure. The choice of Japanese paper provides a delicate, slightly textured surface that interacts with the pigment, creating subtle tonal variations without the depth of oil or watercolor.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1909, the drawing belongs to the period when Klimt was transitioning from his golden‑leaf ornamental phase toward more simplified, expressive forms. Its provenance is limited to private collections, with few public records, suggesting it has remained largely out of exhibition circuits since its inception.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian symbolist painter and a founding member of the Vienna Secession movement.
