Standing Nude, Facing Right
Original title: Standing Nude, Facing Right
kurzbeschreibung
Egon Schiele drew this female nude in 1918, the year of his early death. The figure stands naked and turns to the right; the sheet is executed in charcoal on paper and measures 46.3 × 29.6 cm.
Description
An upright female nude looking to the right dominates the image. One arm stretches above the head, the other hangs loosely down. Lines drawn in black on cream-colored paper flow across the sheet with expressive ease. There is no background or shadow; light falls evenly over the whole page. Spare in construction, the drawing directs attention to the body's form and articulation.
Context
This drawing dates from 1918, Schiele's final year, a period of intense production. By then the artist was well known for his expressive nudes, which were often considered provocative. The sheet belongs to his Vienna years, when he exhibited at the Secession and engaged with Expressionism. Within his late work, it reveals a grown formal assurance.
Impact
The lively play of lines and the concise form give the figure an immediate presence. The expressive contour emphasizes movement and lends the figure something almost dance-like. Because the background is absent, all attention rests on the body's language.
Technique
Charcoal on paper allows both strong and delicately graded strokes. Schiele used the material's dryness for precise contours and for shaded areas. Black remains the only tone on the sheet, which heightens its expressive effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)