Karl Wittgenstein belonged to the wealthier class of Vienna in the latter part of the 19th century and was an aficionado of the arts.  In fact it was he who funded the construction of the Secession Building so that Klimt and friends could display their works.  It was Karl who asked Klimt to paint his daughter, Margaret, in the occassion of her wedding to Thomas Stonborough.  The portrait shows a bold woman holding her head up with an enigmatic smile.  Scholars say that this could be a reflection of Margaret's strong personality as a result of her role in the family.
 
   Although the portrait was part of the 1905 Kunstlerbund exhibit, Klimt was not satisfied with it.  He took it down after the exhibit and added the intricate ornamentation behind the head of Margaret.  To add an accent, he also painted the black band that crosses the painting. 
 
   As a matter of history, Margaret Stonborough- Wittgenstein never did like the portrait.