Select the painting to see it full screen and zoom in.
What the painting shows
Design for the Karlsbad Theatre Curtain by Klimt presents an elaborate decorative scheme painted in oil on canvas. Framed by deep red curtains and an ornamental gilded border, the scene centers on a sunlit terrace filled with figures in classical and historical costume.
At the base of the steps, a reclining nude figure rests with a small child, while draped women sit and converse nearby. Figures in dark robes occupy the lower corners, framing the lighter center. Winged putti float through the air above a wooded garden, set against tall trees and pale sky. The composition is one of Klimt’s decorative allegories, presenting layered symbolic figures within an architectural illusion.
The bottom edge displays an intricate painted fringe and tassels beneath the central platform. Ornate scrollwork and sculptural figures curl along the inner arch, blending painted architecture into the outdoor setting.
The story behind it
Klimt completed this preparatory oil sketch in 1884–1885. Known in German as Entwurf zu einem Vorhang des Stadttheaters Karlsbad, it belongs among the artist’s early works. The small canvas measures 52.7 by 42.5 cm and served as a study for the theatre curtain in Karlsbad.
Where to see it
You can see Design for the Karlsbad Theatre Curtain in the collection of the Belvedere in Vienna.
Questions about Design for the Karlsbad Theatre Curtain
Where is Design for the Karlsbad Theatre Curtain by Klimt?
Design for the Karlsbad Theatre Curtain by Gustav Klimt is located in Vienna, Austria, in the collection of the Belvedere. The museum preserves this preparatory study alongside other historical paintings from the artist's academic period. Visitors to the Austrian gallery can view the work as an example of nineteenth-century decorative painting.
When did Klimt paint Design for the Karlsbad Theatre Curtain?
Gustav Klimt painted Design for the Karlsbad Theatre Curtain between 1884 and 1885. He created this oil sketch during his early career to plan the decorative scheme for a theatre curtain in the town of Karlsbad. The painting reflects his detailed academic training before he founded the Vienna Secession.
