Sitting female nude
c. 1904
Before he became the king of gold leaf, Gustav Klimt was a master of the humble pencil, producing thousands of private sketches like this one. Here, a seated female nude is captured with surprising casualness, her relaxed posture and loose, flowing lines revealing his raw observational skills. Unlike his famous, heavily decorated masterpieces, these intimate drawings were mostly kept hidden from the public during his lifetime. They show how quickly he could capture the essence of a pose, focusing on the curve of the spine rather than perfect anatomical detail. It's a fascinating glimpse into the private sketchbook of a very public artist.
Views: 4