Studie van een in een plaid gewikkelde, rustende vrouw

The drawing Studie van een in een plaid gewikkelde, rustende vrouw by Gustav Klimt is an intimate example of the Austrian artist’s draftsmanship, executed sometime between 1872 and 1918. Classified as a drawing, this piece employs chalk applied directly to paper. Although Klimt is perhaps most internationally recognized for the ornamental oil paintings of his Symbolist 'Golden Period,' his extensive body of preparatory sketches and life studies reveals a foundational command of the human form, often captured in moments of quiet repose or introspection.

The subject is a woman entirely wrapped or enveloped in a heavy plaid or blanket, emphasizing concealment and physical comfort. Klimt utilizes the textural qualities and softness inherent in the chalk medium to render the intricate folds of the drapery with sensitivity, contrasting the heavily shrouded body with the implied warmth and vulnerability of the resting figure. This close attention to texture and posture reflects the artist's dedication to capturing natural movement and private contemplation, a practice that continued even as his public work became increasingly stylized and decorative during the height of the Viennese Secession movement.

Many of Klimt’s studies were not initially intended for public exhibition but served as vital components of his design process for larger works. The survival of drawings such as Studie van een in een plaid gewikkelde, rustende vrouw offers critical insight into the evolution of his mature style, showcasing the skills that underpinned his monumental canvases. This sensitive piece is held within the distinguished collection of the Rijksmuseum. Given the age of the work and the artist, this drawing is often referenced in public domain collections, allowing high-quality prints and reproductions of this essential study to be widely accessible for researchers and art enthusiasts globally.