Head of a Woman

"Head of a Woman" by Egon Schiele, created in 1908, is a significant early drawing that foreshadows the emotional intensity defining his mature Expressionist output. This striking piece is executed using conté crayon and pastel on buff paper, which has been carefully laid down on board. The combination of conté crayon for defining contours and pastel for subtle coloration and texture emphasizes immediacy, a technique typical of the progressive movements emerging in Vienna at the time.

The period of 1901 to 1925 marked Vienna's rapid transition from the decorative elegance of the Secession to a raw, psychologically charged form of Expressionism. Schiele, an influential Austrian draftsman, initially studied under the mentorship of Gustav Klimt before developing a highly personal and often angular style of rendering the human form. Although this 1908 work retains some of the softness associated with earlier styles, Schiele’s characteristic focus on the face as a site of emotional turmoil is already apparent. The intense, selective use of colored pastels helps convey a distinct mood and gives the portrait a powerful intimacy.

As one of Schiele's key early explorations of portraiture, this drawing provides essential insight into the foundation of his distinctive career. The high quality and preservation of the work allow contemporary audiences to fully appreciate the artist's technical prowess in dry media. The drawing currently resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Because of its art historical significance and widespread availability through institutional archives, high-quality prints derived from this foundational Austrian masterwork are frequently shared within the public domain, ensuring its continued study by scholars worldwide.