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What the painting shows
Head of a Girl en Face by Klimt is an intimate 1898 portrait that focuses directly on a young woman’s face. The model looks forward toward you against an atmospheric, dark brown background. Her features appear soft and slightly blurred, with pale skin, flushed pink cheeks, and blue eyes.
Her light reddish hair rises into a loose, soft mass around her head. Two thin hoop earrings frame her cheeks, catching light against the dark shadows at her neck and shoulders. The square composition measures 38 by 34 centimeters, giving the small study a direct and quiet presence among Klimt’s portraits.
The story behind it
Klimt produced the painting in 1898, giving it the title Head of a Girl en Face, also known as Mädchenkopf en face. The portrait focuses closely on the head and face rather than full dress or decorative interior settings, showing the painter’s early interest in direct personal studies.
Where to see it
The original painting belongs to the collection of the Belvedere in Vienna. If you are planning a trip to explore Klimt’s work in Austria, consult our guide on where to see Klimt paintings.
Questions about Head of a Girl en Face
When did Klimt paint Head of a Girl en Face?
Gustav Klimt painted Head of a Girl en Face in 1898. The oil portrait, also known by its German title Mädchenkopf en face, measures 38 by 34 centimeters. It forms part of the permanent art collection housed at the Belvedere in Vienna.
Where is Head of a Girl en Face by Klimt?
Head of a Girl en Face by Klimt is in Vienna, Austria, in the collection of the Belvedere museum. The compact portrait from 1898 features a softly focused front view of a young woman emerging from a dark, shadowy background.
