Semi-Dressed Model

Semi-Dressed Model by Egon Schiele, executed in 1917, is a searing example of the artist’s raw observational skill rendered through charcoal on paper. This stark drawing embodies the intense, psychologically probing style that defined Austrian Expressionism in the final years of World War I. Schiele utilized the immediate and unforgiving quality of charcoal to capture a figure posed with characteristic angularity and profound emotional tension.

The work addresses the complex subject of Female Nudes, though the figure here is only partially draped, creating a dynamic tension between exposure and concealment that distinguishes it from Schiele’s earlier, more explicit compositions. The sitter confronts the viewer with a direct gaze, a hallmark of Schiele’s approach to portraiture that often emphasized the sitter’s isolation and internal distress rather than mere visual representation. Schiele’s technique is defined by economical, yet harsh, outlines; his energetic and broken line quality prioritizes psychological impact over classical anatomical refinement. The figure's posture suggests vulnerability and defenselessness, qualities consistent with the prevailing anxieties of the period.

This critical drawing is now housed in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. As Schiele died tragically young in 1918, works from 1917 demonstrate the final maturation of his brief but influential career. The enduring power of this piece has secured its place in art history. Due to the wide acclaim for the artist, high-quality prints derived from this iconic drawing are frequently sought after, and the underlying reference imagery is often available in the public domain for study and educational purposes.