Woman Buttoning Her Shoes (recto); Study for Reclining Nude with Arms Raised (verso)

Woman Buttoning Her Shoes (recto); Study for Reclining Nude with Arms Raised (verso) is a powerful double-sided drawing by Egon Schiele, completed in 1915. The recto, executed in stark charcoal on paper, captures a highly intimate and psychologically charged moment of a woman engaged in the act of dressing. Schiele’s unflinching artistic focus on the rituals of everyday life, combined with his characteristic angular line work, transforms the private action of buttoning her shoes into an intense study of vulnerability and introspection common to his treatment of women during this period.

The reverse of the sheet offers a compelling contrast in both subject and medium. Titled Study for Reclining Nude with Arms Raised, this sketch is rendered in graphite, showcasing the speed, economy, and raw observational skill central to Schiele’s preparatory process. This practice of utilizing both sides of the paper was common for the prolific Austrian artist, emphasizing his continuous drive to capture the expressive potential and psychological tension of the human form. Both sides clearly exemplify the penetrating gaze and expressive distortion that defined Schiele's contribution to early Modernism.

As a pivotal example of Expressionist draftsmanship, this work provides crucial insight into Schiele's artistic practice during the tumultuous years of World War I. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this significant drawing in its comprehensive collection. Although original drawings are unique and fragile, the enduring popularity and cultural importance of Schiele’s studies mean that high-quality prints and reproductions, often derived from the public domain, are widely disseminated today, allowing broader audiences to engage with his challenging artistic vision.