Standing Woman in Kimono (Dame im Kimono)

Standing Woman in Kimono (Dame im Kimono) is a significant graphite drawing created by Austrian Symbolist artist Gustav Klimt in 1917. Executed in pencil on paper, this work falls within the 1917-18 period, representing the late phase of Klimt’s career, a time when he increasingly focused on the immediacy and intimacy of drawing to explore form and human expression.

The drawing captures the figure of a woman standing in full length, presented in an elaborate kimono. This choice of subject reflects the widespread influence of Japonisme and East Asian aesthetics on European art and fashion during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Klimt employs his characteristic style of combining detailed pattern work with gestural line. While the precise details of the kimono’s fabric and drape are rendered with delicate shading and intricate pencil strokes, the face and hands remain generalized, serving primarily to anchor the figure rather than provide psychological depth.

This particular drawing showcases Klimt’s mastery of the pencil medium, revealing the preparatory nature of his draftsmanship. These drawings were often used as independent studies or as vital stages in the development of his large-scale paintings, allowing him to quickly capture pose, movement, and the complex textures of costume. The fluid lines emphasize the volume of the figure beneath the heavy garment, contrasting sharply with the flatness of the paper.

Although many of Klimt’s famous gilded paintings dominate public perception, his expansive oeuvre of drawings is critical for understanding his technical genius and process. The artistic importance of the piece ensures its widespread recognition; consequently, high-quality prints derived from the original are frequently reproduced, making the artist’s work accessible globally. This important drawing is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.