Woman with Scarf (Dame im Dreiviertelprofil nach links, den Mund und einen Teil der Frisur durch Umhang verdeckt) is a key drawing created by the renowned Austrian Symbolist, Gustav Klimt, in 1910. Executed using colored pencil on paper, this intimate work exemplifies Klimt's mastery in line work and subtle chromatic shading during his later period. While classified specifically as a drawing, the piece captures the psychological intensity often associated with his formal portraiture, yet maintains the immediacy and delicate sensitivity characteristic of studies and works on paper.
The subject is depicted in a three-quarter profile facing left. A defining feature of the composition is the deliberate concealment of the lower face; the mouth and a portion of the hairstyle are obscured by a flowing scarf or cloak (Umhang). This occlusion lends the figure an air of mystery and introspection, moving beyond mere decorative study into an exploration of veiled emotion. Unlike many of his opulent oil paintings, which utilized gold leaf and complex textures, this work highlights the artist’s skill with a minimalist palette. The colored pencil medium allows Klimt to achieve a delicate balance between clearly defined contours and soft, atmospheric blending, giving volume to the garments and facial features while retaining the sharpness of the original drawing.
Dating to approximately c. 1910, the piece falls within the final decade of the artist's life, a period when Klimt was exceptionally prolific in generating drawings that either served as preparatory studies or stood as complete works unto themselves. As a seminal example of early 20th-century Austrian modernism, this drawing contributes significantly to understanding the evolution of Viennese Symbolism. High-quality prints of this work are sought after in academic and private art reference collections globally. This important study by Klimt is preserved within the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
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