 Whitford observes that some of the preliminary sketches that Klimt made for "The Kiss" showed a bearded figure which was possibly a self-portrait; the female partner is described by Whitford as an "idealised portrait of Adele".Whitford writes that the only evidence put forward to support the theory is the position of the woman's right hand, as Adele had a disfigured finger following a childhood accident.Adele's parents arranged a marriage with Ferdinand Bloch, a banker and sugar manufacturer; Adele's older sister had previously married Ferdinand's older brother.