What the painting shows

Lady with Hat and Feather Boa by Gustav Klimt places a red-haired woman against a dark, moody background. A massive black fur piece or feather boa wraps high around her neck, hiding the lower half of her face up to her lips. She wears an expansive dark hat with a deep violet band pulled low over her auburn curls.

Her pale skin stands out against the dense black materials around her. Heavy-lidded eyes gaze slightly to the viewer’s left with an intense, quiet expression. Her cheeks show a soft pink flush, and her red lips just peek over the dark edge of the wrap. Below the dark mass of clothing, a pale patch of fabric or a gloved hand appears on the right. Klimt signed his name in block letters on the left side of the canvas.

The work forms part of Klimt’s celebrated series of female portraits. Thick, energetic strokes of paint form the dimly lit background behind the figure, showing touches of dark red and muted green.

The story behind it

Klimt completed this canvas in 1909 using oil on canvas. The work is also known under its German title, Dame mit Hut und Federboa.

Instead of surrounding his subject with intricate gold leaf or decorative mosaic shapes, Klimt focused on contrasts of tone and texture. The dark hat and thick boa frame the sitter’s pale face, turning her expression into the central focus of the composition.

Where to see it

You can see Lady with Hat and Feather Boa in Vienna, Austria, where it belongs to the collection of the Belvedere. If you are planning an art tour of Austria’s capital, consult our guide on where to see Klimt paintings.