What the painting shows

The Bride by Klimt, also known as Die Braut, presents a crowded composition of human figures across a wide canvas. On the left side, several sleeping women curl together within a sweep of bright orange, red, and patterned fabrics. At the lower left, an infant rests swaddled in patterned cloth beside the bare back and hip of a reclining woman.

In the center, a woman in a long blue gown tilts her head with closed eyes. To her right stands a figure rendered in drawn lines directly against the bare canvas ground. This figure wears a skirt filled with brilliant yellow, green, and blue geometric motifs, while the upper torso and head remain sketched against the dark brown backdrop.

The story behind it

Gustav Klimt worked on the canvas between 1917 and 1918. The oil on canvas work belongs to the painter’s allegories, combining elaborate figurative groups across a frame that measures 165 by 191 centimeters.

The composition reveals key aspects of Klimt’s working technique. Because sections of the canvas display line drawings rather than completed oil layers, you can see how he mapped figures in charcoal or pencil before adding color. He applied paint in dense, decorative sections, leaving adjacent figures in sketched form.

Where to see it

The painting is in the collection of the Klimt Foundation in Vienna, on loan to the Belvedere. To plan a visit or explore collections featuring his works, consult our guide on where to see Klimt paintings.