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What the painting shows
Girl’s Head Turned Left by Klimt presents a young woman in strict profile against a plain, dark background. Her head turns to the left, showing her downcast eyes, straight nose, and calm expression. Her reddish-brown hair is gathered up at the back in a neat bun, with soft strands framing her forehead and ear.
She wears a dark jacket or dress with a high collar. Tied around her neck is a light-colored scarf, patterned with delicate red and green decorative accents. Soft light falls from the left, highlighting her forehead, cheek, and the knot of her neckerchief while casting the back of her head in shadow.
The story behind it
Klimt painted this work in 1880, dating it to the very start of his artistic career. It belongs among his early works, painted when he focused on close life studies and academic realism.
The piece is also known under the German title Mädchenkopf im Profil. As one of his intimate portraits, this small oil on canvas measures just 24 by 16.8 centimeters.
Where to see it
You can see Girl’s Head Turned Left in the collection of the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan.
Questions about Girl’s Head Turned Left
When did Klimt paint Girl’s Head Turned Left?
Gustav Klimt painted Girl’s Head Turned Left in 1880. Created during the earliest phase of his career as an academic painter in Vienna, this small oil study measures 24 by 16.8 centimeters. The finished work is also known by the German title Mädchenkopf im Profil.
Where is Girl’s Head Turned Left by Klimt?
Girl’s Head Turned Left by Gustav Klimt is located in Tokyo, Japan. The 1880 oil painting forms part of the permanent collection at the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. The artwork remains a compact study on canvas measuring just 24 by 16.8 centimeters.
