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What the painting shows
Male Nude by Klimt presents a full-length study of a standing, bearded model inside an artist studio. The man raises his right arm to place a hand on top of his head, while his left hand rests steadily on a stack of wooden crates. His right leg supports his weight on the pale floor, and his bent left leg rests at the knee on a cloth-covered block.
The model looks downward with a calm, steady gaze. His dark hair and full beard contrast with the warm skin tones of his body. The stack of wooden boxes beside him features rough grain and cut-out handles, grounding the figure in a working studio environment.
Klimt paints the composition with a subdued color scheme. A deep grey wall forms the backdrop, broken by dark red wall panels behind the model. Direct studio light enters from the upper left, defining the contours of the chest, arms, and thighs against the shadowed background.
The story behind it
Painted in 1883, the piece stands among the early works created by Klimt. Also cataloged under the title Männlicher Akt, the oil on canvas measures 68 by 54.8 centimeters. The canvas focuses on natural human anatomy, bodily proportions, and direct lighting rather than decorative patterns.
Where to see it
Male Nude is in the permanent collection of the Belvedere in Vienna. The museum holds a significant group of paintings created throughout the artist’s life. To locate this piece and plan a museum visit, consult our guide on where to see Klimt paintings.
Questions about Male Nude
When did Klimt paint Male Nude?
Gustav Klimt painted Male Nude in 1883. The oil on canvas painting belongs to the artist's early works and is also known under the German title Männlicher Akt. It measures 68 by 54.8 centimeters, showing a bearded male figure posed standing beside a stack of wooden crates in an artist studio.
Where is Male Nude by Klimt?
Male Nude by Gustav Klimt is located in the Belvedere museum in Vienna, Austria. The institution preserves this 1883 oil on canvas painting as part of its permanent art collection. Visitors to the museum can view the 68 by 54.8 centimeter canvas alongside other historic works created by the Austrian painter.
