The Lovers 1913

Gustav Klimt made this drawing, The Lovers, with graphite on paper. I can imagine him in the studio, pencil in hand, lightly sketching this entwined couple. He’s working fast to capture the intimacy of the lovers, mapping out the soft curves and flowing lines. It’s a tender scene, so vulnerable, and he has only used a few spare lines. These lines convey the way the lovers are enveloped in each other's presence, lost in a private world. Klimt often explored themes of love and desire and you can feel how this drawing is a study into the emotional and physical connection between two people. The graphite is so light and feathery; you can feel the closeness between the figures. You know, sometimes a simple line says more than any fancy detail. Klimt knew that, and we’re still looking and learning from his work today.