Standing Woman in Kimono (Dame im Kimono) 1918

Gustav Klimt made this drawing of a Standing Woman in Kimono with graphite on paper. The marks are tentative, like he’s feeling his way around the form, mapping it out with a flurry of lines. The figure is almost swallowed up by the kimono, which becomes the real subject of the piece. It’s rendered with these loose, spiraling shapes, like he’s trying to capture the fabric's weight and movement. Look at the way the lines bunch together, creating depth and shadow. Then notice how they thin out, almost disappearing, suggesting a play of light on the surface. This piece reminds me of Matisse’s drawings, that same economical approach to line, suggesting form with the fewest possible marks. It’s like they’re both asking: how little can I do and still make it work? Klimt leaves so much unsaid, inviting us to fill in the blanks. And that, for me, is where the magic happens.