Standing Nude with Orange Drapery (recto): Study of Nude with Arms Raised (verso)
Original title: Standing Nude with Orange Drapery (recto): Study of Nude with Arms Raised (verso)
kurzbeschreibung
Egon Schiele made this sheet in 1914, titling it Standing Nude with Orange Cloth. A naked figure stands upright, both arms raised high, wearing an orange head covering. Watercolor, opaque watercolor, and graphite on paper come together here, and the reverse side carries an additional nude study with raised arms.
Description
Placed near the middle of the sheet, the unclothed figure has color accented at the chest. An orange cloth falls from the right side, while an orange headpiece covers the head. Both arms stretch upward. The ground stays white, marked by a few sketch lines that appear to belong to the study of the figure.
Context
Schiele produced this work in 1914, a period when he was examining the human body closely and rendering it with expressive force. A leading figure of Expressionism, he became known for provocative nude depictions. This sheet makes his working method visible: studies set down directly on paper, often with watercolor and graphite.
Impact
Vivid color and a fluid, expressive line give the nude a dynamic presence that is at once vulnerable. The raised arms and the orange cloth build a tension that speaks directly to the viewer. Because the image is pared back to essentials, the figure feels intense and immediate.
Technique
The sheet was executed in a mixed technique of watercolor, opaque watercolor, and graphite on paper. Colors are set down vividly, while graphite lines fix the figure's contours and details. Joining these materials yields precise drawing alongside painterly color.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)