diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py b/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py
index 678f03e4a647..29c8f2d6864d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py
@@ -522,6 +522,11 @@ def __init__(self, gridspec, num1, num2=None):
         else:
             self._layoutbox = None
 
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return (f"{self.get_gridspec()}["
+                f"{self.rowspan.start}:{self.rowspan.stop}, "
+                f"{self.colspan.start}:{self.colspan.stop}]")
+
     @staticmethod
     def _from_subplot_args(figure, args):
         """
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_gridspec.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_gridspec.py
index 70d1ee132851..fa931ce086e5 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_gridspec.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_gridspec.py
@@ -24,3 +24,8 @@ def test_height_ratios():
     """
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         gridspec.GridSpec(1, 1, height_ratios=[2, 1, 3])
+
+
+def test_repr():
+    ss = gridspec.GridSpec(3, 3)[2, 1:3]
+    assert repr(ss) == "GridSpec(3, 3)[2:3, 1:3]"