“Reclining Nude Lying on Her Stomach and Facing Right” is a piece by artist Gustav Klimt, created in 1910. As a notable work from the Art Nouveau movement, this nude painting measures 37 cm by 56 cm. It is an exemplar of the Modern period, during which Klimt was an influential figure.
The artwork depicts a woman lying face down, her head turned to the right, allowing a sense of engagement with the viewer through her direct gaze. Her body, rendered with a fine and delicate linearity, is largely undetailed, emphasizing the contours and form rather than the texture or coloration of the flesh. Klimt has used a subtle range of colors to accentuate the female form, with the rest of the composition remaining minimalistic to keep the focus on the subject.
The background is sparse, imbued with an almost ethereal quality that allows the figure to stand out. The creative style, with the flowing lines and the soft, almost dreamlike quality of the rendering, is characteristic of Klimt’s work within the Art Nouveau period. Despite the simplicity of the setting, intricate patterns—a hallmark of Klimt’s style—can be seen decorating the subject’s elaborate hairdo, adding a decorative flourish to the otherwise unembellished composition.
Through this work, Klimt explores the theme of the female nude, a popular subject of this era’s art, in a way that is both intimate and detached, celebrating the form while abstracting it from any particular narrative or context.
