Water Serpents I by Klimt: Women, Gold and a Fish

In this article

Women drifting like water creatures

In Water Serpents I, two women float in a narrow, vertical space, their long bodies wrapped in golden hair and patterned water plants. Klimt made the picture between 1904 and 1907 on parchment, using paint and gold. It belongs to the Belvedere in Vienna.

A sleeping face in golden hair

A sleeping woman’s face in reddish-gold hair — A sleeping face in golden hair.

At the top, a woman’s face rests with closed eyes among long reddish-gold hair, scattered with green ornaments.

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Water Serpents I hand-painted oil reproduction

Water Serpents I, painted by hand

Gustav Klimt · oil on canvas, made to order

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Bodies made of pattern

The pale body among black, gold and white patterns — Body and pattern.

Below, the pale body drifts against panels of black, gold and white patterns. As in Klimt’s golden paintings, the figure blends with the ornament around it.

A fish at the bottom

A large pale fish with a round eye at the bottom — The fish at the bottom.

At the bottom, a large pale fish with a round eye swims past, reminding us that this is an underwater world.

Questions about Water Serpents I

Where is it?

Belvedere, Vienna.

What is it painted on?

Parchment, with paint and gold.

When was it made?

Between 1904 and 1907.

Is there a Water Serpents II?

Yes, a larger horizontal painting of the same theme.

Sources and image credit

Wikimedia Commons: Wasserschlangen I, Belvedere

Public-domain reproduction of Water Serpents I, via Wikimedia Commons (Belvedere). Detail images are crops of the same image; no reconstruction or upscaling.