Zoom Into Klimt's 'Female Figure'

'Female Figure' is one of the typical drawings that Klimt would make when he was beginning to work on a portrait, a theme that occupied large part of his oeuvre.

Our drawing presents a seated figure, her torso erect and her head slightly turned to the right, looking directly at the viewer.

The model's light-colored eyes are notable, as is the gesture of her mouth.

Her long neck is highlighted in the pose chosen for this portrait, and the artist emphasizes it with a low neckline that appears to have been corrected: a soft line of a higher neckline denounces the pentimento that is destined to generate the basis for the construction of the neck and head.

Other changes can be seen in the arms; the right is presented without difficulties and from the first line drawn is the definitive version, while for the left, various lines that pass over repeatedly demonstrate a degree of uncertainty.

The model's hands are joined on her lap and she holds something in her right hand, perhaps a fan or a small purse.

It is interesting to observe that this preparatory drawing presents us with a conclusive vision of the pose and the attitude of the person portrayed, in addition to details of her clothes, and even -to judge by the graphic pattern that appears on the seat- invites us to suppose that this is a richly embroidered surface, and it becomes a colorful tapestry.

In spite of the particularities indicated, the drawing appears to be a portrait whose pose was already decided.

We believe that this type of solution has surely been the result of careful observation on the part of the artist, possibly realized during a prolonged period of time, allowing him to produce a finished image in a quick, confident drawing.