What the painting shows

Friends I (The Sisters) by Klimt is an oil on canvas work created in 1907. It depicts two women placed closely beside each other within an unusually narrow, vertical frame. The figure in the foreground wears a massive black coat with an upturned collar that covers most of her torso. Her pale face appears in profile beneath reddish hair and a wide, dark hat with deep purple tones.

Behind her stands a second woman who faces forward toward the viewer. She features pale skin, pink cheeks, and dark hair cut in bangs across her forehead, dressed in dark clothing with a small white collar line. Along the lower left edge, a patterned floor of small, square mosaic tiles in grey, black, and white adds structure beneath their coats. Small flecks of blue, red, and green color appear near the upper right shoulder.

The story behind it

Klimt painted the canvas in 1907. The composition is also known by the alternative titles The Sisters, Friends I, and the German titles Freundinnen I and Die Schwestern. Measuring 125 centimeters tall by 42 centimeters wide, its slender proportions emphasize the vertical lines of both figures. Art historians classify the piece among Klimt’s notable portraits, where he often explored decorative surface patterns alongside natural facial features.

Where to see it

Friends I (The Sisters) is held in the permanent collection of the Belvedere in Vienna. If you are planning a trip to view Klimt’s works in person, our guide on where to see Klimt paintings details the major museum collections in Austria and beyond.