Squatting Woman (Kauernde) from The Graphic Work of Egon Schiele (Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele)

Egon Schiele’s Squatting Woman (Kauernde) from The Graphic Work of Egon Schiele (Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele) is a raw and highly focused examination of the human figure, executed at a pivotal moment in the Austrian Expressionist movement. Created in 1914, this print utilizes the drypoint technique, where the artist incised the copper plate directly with a needle, creating a rich burr that holds ink and results in the distinctive velvety, spontaneous lines seen here. This drypoint later formed one of the essential graphic works in the comprehensive portfolio Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele, which was published posthumously in 1922.

The image focuses intently on a nude female figure captured in a difficult, highly compressed posture. Schiele’s unflinching approach to the body rejected traditional ideals of beauty, instead prioritizing the conveyance of psychological discomfort and inner turmoil. The figure's exposed vulnerability, emphasized by the thin, rapid lines of the drypoint, is characteristic of Schiele’s expressive draftsmanship. This style, marked by its sharp contours and angularity, places the work firmly within the context of early twentieth-century Austrian art, which was deeply concerned with internal states and emerging modern anxieties.

The intense focus on isolated figures such as the Squatting Woman (Kauernde) was a defining feature of the artist’s output in 1914. Schiele's willingness to expose and distort the figure challenged contemporary sensibilities and ensured his status as a revolutionary figure. The subsequent publication of these prints in 1922 cemented his legacy as a graphic master. This powerful impression is currently housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.