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Family as a print, in a room
What the painting shows
Family by Klimt brings three sleeping figures together under a heavy dark mantle. A mother rests at the upper right, her pale face tilted downward with closed eyes, while two young children sleep beside her. The child on the left faces outward with flushed cheeks, and the smaller child on the right rests in profile under a blue wrap. Thick, visible brushstrokes in dark brown and black cover most of the square composition, broken only by the bright skin tones and a narrow patterned band of blue and gold hues in the upper background.
The story behind it
Klimt painted this work between 1909 and 1910 under the German title Familie, and it is also known as Mother with Two Children. In our catalog, it belongs to the group of allegories. Klimt left no written explanation of the scene, leaving viewers to focus on the intimate bond between mother and children enclosed in deep shadow.
Where to see it
The original canvas hangs in the Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. You can view it alongside other major works by the artist in the permanent collection. For planning an itinerary to see his paintings in person, consult our guide on where to see Klimt paintings.
Choosing a print
Prints are printed and shipped by ArtsyWall in three formats: Premium Canvas, Framed Canvas and Archival Paper. The composition relies on deep brown and black brushwork contrasting with pale, luminous faces.
Premium Canvas presents the work as an unframed gallery wrap, letting the rich dark tones wrap cleanly around the edges of the stretcher bars. A Framed Canvas, especially in a black or gold wood floating frame, gives structure to the dark composition and separates the painted shadows from your wall. Archival Paper suits smaller spaces or custom framing behind glass, preserving the fine textures of the brushwork and the delicate color on the faces.
Details of Family
Questions about Family
When did Klimt paint Family?
Gustav Klimt painted Family between 1909 and 1910. He completed the square oil painting during his later career, working with oil on canvas. The piece is also cataloged under the alternative title Mother with Two Children, or Familie and Mutter mit zwei Kindern in German.
Where is Family by Klimt?
Family by Gustav Klimt is located in Vienna, Austria, in the permanent art collection of the Belvedere museum. The institution preserves the 90 by 90 centimeter oil painting, which depicts a sleeping mother alongside two children swaddled within dark fabric.
