It depicts a portrait of a female figure, composed in an unusually lively expressionistic style.

[2] The original portrait showed a woman with whom Klimt is believed to have had a love affair, but after she died suddenly, he painted over the work.

[3] The painting was believed stolen on 22 February 1997,[4] shortly before a special exhibition was planned at the gallery, during the renovation of the building.

The frame was found discarded on the roof next to a skylight, which was, however, too small for the painting to have been removed through.

[5] The "theft" in February may have been staged shortly before the exhibition to cover up the swap of the original painting with the forgery some months before.