Portrait of Marie Breunig 1894

Gustav Klimt made this portrait of Marie Breunig with oil on canvas, a traditional material of the fine arts. But look closely, and you'll see how interested Klimt was in the trappings of the industrial era. While the brushwork is subtle, the composition itself feels boldly modern. Marie's dress, a stark contrast to the ornamental textiles in the background, embodies the shift toward mass-produced fashion. The dress is the thing here, eclipsing all the elements of traditional portraiture. Klimt has paid attention to the qualities of the heavy velvet, the dense blackness and the sheen of the material. He’s focused on the labor involved in the production process of ready-made garments. Ultimately, the portrait challenges conventional distinctions between fine art and design. The focus on Marie's fashionable attire reflects the growing influence of consumer culture, and makes this portrait a fascinating document of its time.