This art piece depicts a frontal, half-length portrait of a woman representing Hygieia, the goddess of health. Her gaze is directed straight ahead with a serene, detached expression. She holds a shallow bowl in one hand, while a long, golden serpent coils elegantly around her arms and torso, its body creating a rhythmic, S-shaped curve that leads the viewer's eye across the composition.
She wears a flowing gown characterized by vertical lines and intricate, repeating patterns in shades of vibrant red and opulent gold. Her dark hair is styled with ornate floral or circular motifs, and she wears a wide, textured choker collar. The style is quintessentially Symbolist, featuring flat, decorative elements combined with the subtle, modeled features of the woman's face and hands. The background is a muted, neutral-toned wash that helps the bold red and yellow hues of the subject pop.
The work is rich with metallic gold accents, reflecting the artist’s characteristic use of gilding to create a sense of ethereal luxury. The composition is highly stylized, emphasizing symmetry and decorative ornament over realistic depth. Thin red ribbons or lines cascade down her dress, adding dynamic energy to the otherwise still and statuesque figure. The overall mood is one of timeless, mythic solemnity, blending classical mythology with the detailed, avant-garde aesthetic of the early twentieth-century Viennese Secession movement.