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What the painting shows
Portrait of Ria Munk III by Klimt is a tall oil painting that reveals how Gustav Klimt constructed his late portraits. The upper section around the sitter’s head is fully rendered in rich color. Ria Munk turns her face toward you with a calm smile, rosy cheeks, dark hair, and a pink feathered hat. Behind her, dense clusters of blossoms in red, violet, yellow, and blue flank her shoulders against ornamental yellow and blue grounds.
The rest of the tall canvas shows Klimt’s working method in raw form. Her dress consists mostly of charcoal outlines and preliminary marks directly on the primed surface, accented with light dabs of lavender and green paint. Along the lower right, drawn Asian motifs and floral medallions share space with patches of warm orange and soft pink. You can see how Klimt resolved faces first before finishing ornamental drapery, a contrast found across his catalog of paintings.
Who the sitter was
The sitter depicted in the work was Ria Munk. Klimt titled the piece Portrait of Ria Munk III, also known under the German title Bildnis Ria Munk.
Where to see it
Portrait of Ria Munk III is in a private collection. Because it belongs to a private collector rather than a public museum, the canvas is not on permanent public display.
Questions about Portrait of Ria Munk III
When did Klimt paint Portrait of Ria Munk III?
Gustav Klimt painted Portrait of Ria Munk III between 1917 and 1918. It is one of the final female portraits the Austrian artist worked on before his death in 1918, leaving the lower portion of the dress as an open charcoal sketch on raw canvas.
Who owns Portrait of Ria Munk III by Klimt?
Portrait of Ria Munk III by Gustav Klimt is currently held in a private collection. Because the painting belongs to a private collector rather than a public gallery, it is not on regular public view in any permanent museum collection.
