The artwork titled “Two Studies of Sitting Nudes” is a creation by Gustav Klimt, dating back to the period between 1901 and 1902. Klimt employed pencil on paper as his medium of choice, adhering to the Symbolism art movement. The piece is a sketch and study, sized at 31.7 x 45.2 cm, and is part of the collection at the J. Paul Getty Museum located in Los Angeles, California, United States.
The artwork features two delicate pencil studies of nude female figures in seated poses. Despite their partial and sketchy nature, Klimt’s mastery of form and line is evident. On the left, the figure is bent forward, her head obscured by the angle of her back, which creates a steep curve leading down to her thighs. The emphasis on the curvature of the spine and buttocks is palpable, demonstrating Klimt’s skilled hand in capturing the human form with minimal strokes.
On the right, there’s a rear view of another seated figure, her torso twisted slightly to allow her face to emerge from behind her raised shoulder. Her long, flowing hair drapes down her back, carved out with careful, rhythmic lines. The deftly drawn contours around her back and hips once again highlight Klimt’s focus and fascination with the human anatomy. The fragmented quality of both studies suggests a concentration on the form rather than the complete depiction of the body, inviting the viewer to focus on the line and shape that define these figures.
Klimt’s signature is duly inscribed at the bottom of the sketch, serving as an authentication of his authorship. Overall, the studies reflect the artist’s interest in the natural beauty and complexity of the human figure, themes that are characteristic of his work within the Symbolism movement.
