Reclining Nude with Outstretched Left Arm
Original title: Reclining Nude with Outstretched Left Arm
kurzbeschreibung
Gustav Klimt drew this reclining nude with an outstretched left arm around 1903–1904 in graphite. A naked woman lies at ease, her body captured with a few confident lines.
Description
Her left arm stretches far out, while her head rests to the right, gaze turned upward. The legs are slightly open, and hair falls across shoulder and back. On light paper, the graphite drawing relies entirely on the contours and proportions of the body, with no background elements.
Context
In the early 1900s, Klimt engaged intensively with the female nude, often as preparatory work for larger paintings. Numerous study drawings were made in his studio to explore movement and posture. This sheet belongs to a series of such nude studies from that period.
Impact
Because everything is reduced to line, the drawing feels immediate and almost intimate. The relaxed pose and averted gaze create a quiet, contemplative mood.
Technique
Graphite on paper, applied with varying pressure—sometimes fine, sometimes stronger lines. The sketch feels spontaneous and emphasizes the flowing contours of the body.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)