Reclining Nude
ca. 1912–13
Medium
Graphite
Dimensions
Sheet: 14 3/4 × 22 1/2 in. (37.5 × 57.2 cm) Frame: 23 × 29 × 1 1/2 in. (58.4 × 73.7 × 3.8 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982
Accession Number
1984.433.199
Tags
Art Historical Context
Gustav Klimt’s *Reclining Nude* (ca. 1912–13) captures the artist’s lifelong fascination with the female form through the intimate medium of graphite on paper. Created during the later phase of his career, this drawing exemplifies Klimt’s masterful draftsmanship, using fluid, economical lines to suggest both the softness of the body and a sense of quiet repose. Unlike his more famous gilded paintings, the work’s simplicity highlights his ability to convey sensuality and presence with minimal means. As a leading figure of the Vienna Secession, Klimt often explored themes of femininity and erot...
About the Artist
Gustav Klimt · 1862–1918
Austrian painter and designer. One of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement, known for his decorative style and use of gold leaf.