Profile of a Girl (Study for 'Thalia and Melpomene') (Brustbild eines Mädchens mit langem Haar im Profil nach links) is a preparatory work created by Gustav Klimt in 1898. Classified as a drawing, this sensitive study utilizes colored pencil on paper, highlighting the Austrian artist's intense focus on line and form prior to transferring the subject to a larger painting. The delicate application of color suggests tone and volume, meticulously capturing the profile view of the young model, particularly the cascade of her flowing hair and the precise structure of her features.
The drawing serves as a direct study for the figure of Thalia, the muse of comedy, in Klimt’s ambitious painting Thalia and Melpomene, executed during the crucial period of 1898–99. This era marked a significant turning point in the Austrian master’s career, coinciding with his commitment to the Vienna Secession movement. While the finished painting utilizes rich symbolism and the gilded ornamentation typical of Klimt’s mature style, this preliminary sketch emphasizes the naturalistic rendering of the human subject. It grounds the eventual allegorical figure in careful, observed reality. Klimt often returned to detailed studies in colored pencil and charcoal to refine the poses and expressions of his models, making these preparatory drawings vital records of his rigorous artistic process.
The intimate scale and detailed execution of this piece reflect Klimt’s dedication to capturing the emotional nuance and inherent grace of his models. Although many of Klimt’s major paintings remain tightly controlled, preparatory sketches such as this work occasionally become widely accessible, allowing greater insight into the artist’s methodology. This important drawing, which bridges the gap between the academic style and the emerging modern movement, is currently held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). High-quality prints derived from preparatory studies like this one, occasionally entering the public domain, enable a wider appreciation of the Austrian master’s foundational technique.
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