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What the painting shows
Portrait of Mathilde Trau by Klimt presents a half-length portrait of a seated woman facing toward the left in three-quarter profile. Klimt completed this oil on canvas in 1893, placing it among his notable early works.
The sitter wears a voluminous black dress with puffed sleeves, a high collar, and dark beadwork along the neckline. A decorative brooch fastens at her throat, matched by a small drop earring visible on her left ear. Her dark hair is swept back neatly from her forehead, exposing the line of her cheek and ear.
Klimt captures the delicate features of her face with smooth brushwork, detailing her soft jawline, light eyes, and calm expression. Light enters from the left of the composition, illuminating her pale complexion. Behind her, the background consists of brushed tones of deep red and dark burgundy, which separate the dark fabric of her gown from the surrounding space.
Who the sitter was
The sitter is Mathilde Trau, who posed for Klimt in 1893. Klimt produced this likeness as part of his private portraits of Viennese citizens. Aside from her name recorded in the title of the painting, surviving records provide no additional biographical details about her life or family.
Where to see it
Portrait of Mathilde Trau is in the collection of the Belvedere in Vienna. The canvas measures 79 by 58.5 centimeters, retaining its original format from Klimt’s pre-Secession period.
Questions about Portrait of Mathilde Trau
When did Klimt paint Portrait of Mathilde Trau?
Gustav Klimt painted Portrait of Mathilde Trau in 1893. The artwork dates from an early stage in his career, before he co-founded the Vienna Secession. During this phase, Klimt frequently accepted private portrait commissions from patrons across Vienna, rendering his subjects with refined realism, dark backgrounds, and subtle lighting on their facial features.
Where is Portrait of Mathilde Trau by Klimt?
Portrait of Mathilde Trau by Klimt is located at the Belvedere museum in Vienna, Austria. The Austrian gallery houses the original oil on canvas painting as part of its permanent collection. The museum preserves the work alongside other nineteenth-century Austrian paintings that document the development of Klimt's style.
