Two Women Reclining

Two Women Reclining is an intimate graphite drawing created by Gustav Klimt sometime between 1900 and 1910. This period marks the apex of the artist’s involvement with the Vienna Secession movement, during which his focus heavily shifted toward expressive explorations of the female body and human sexuality, often using female nudes as central subjects.

Executed entirely in graphite, the work exemplifies Klimt's mastery of contour drawing. Unlike the heavily patterned, gilded surfaces of his celebrated oil paintings, this drawing prioritizes line and subtle tonal contrast, defining the figures with precise delineation and delicate shading. The composition features two figures nestled closely together in a state of repose, allowing Klimt to explore complex anatomical interactions and intimate states. The eroticism inherent in the piece reflects the fin-de-siècle culture of Vienna, where artists engaged critically with traditional morality and representation.

Such drawings served as essential preparatory studies, providing the foundation for the elaborate compositions that characterize Klimt’s major projects. The figures embody the period's fascination with psychological depth and the raw physicality of the human form. This important drawing is part of the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because this work represents a classic drawing from the artist's studio practice, quality prints are frequently sought after by enthusiasts. Although the original resides securely in the Met, the increasing availability of images in the public domain ensures that scholars and admirers worldwide can access and study Two Women Reclining.