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What the painting shows
Two Female Nudes Standing by Klimt shows two bare figures rendered in graphite on paper. The woman on the left stands tall with her back turned toward you. Her hair is gathered loosely above her neck. Klimt outlines her spine, waist, and hips with continuous graphite strokes, using vertical shading along her legs to define her stance.
To the right, a second nude woman leans forward. Her head tilts back with closed eyes and a relaxed facial expression. Her upper body is shown in three-quarter view, with light pencil strokes tracing her chest, shoulders, and arms. Klimt leaves the paper background completely empty, keeping all attention on the contours and quiet intimacy of the two figures.
The story behind it
Klimt produced Two Female Nudes Standing around 1900. The sheet is also recorded under the German title Zwei Studien eines weiblichen Aktes, vom Rücken und von der Seite gesehen, translating as two studies of a female nude seen from the back and side.
Drawing served as an essential daily discipline throughout Klimt’s artistic career. Sheets like this allowed him to study poses, balance, and anatomy directly from life. You can discover more of his works on paper in our section on drawings, or explore his complete catalog of oil paintings to see how these preparatory sketches shaped his larger projects.
Where to see it
You can see Two Female Nudes Standing at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. The museum preserves the original drawing within its permanent collection.
Questions about Two Female Nudes Standing
Where is Two Female Nudes Standing by Klimt?
Two Female Nudes Standing by Klimt is preserved at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Gustav Klimt produced this graphite drawing on paper around 1900. The museum holds the sheet, which is also titled Zwei Studien eines weiblichen Aktes, vom Rücken und von der Seite gesehen, in its collection.
What is Two Female Nudes Standing by Klimt made of?
Two Female Nudes Standing by Klimt is made of graphite on paper. Gustav Klimt sketched the two figures using pencil outlines and delicate shading around 1900. This piece is cataloged as a drawing by Gustav Klimt and is preserved in the collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.
