Frauenschuh und der untere Saum des Rockes 1893

Wilhelm Altheim created this drawing, "Frauenschuh und der untere Saum des Rockes", using graphite, around 1890. The dominant visual element here is the contrast between the heavily shaded shoe and the light, sketched skirt hem. Notice how Altheim uses dense, dark graphite to give the shoe a weighty, almost sculptural presence, particularly through the shiny reflective areas. In contrast, the skirt is rendered with quick, light strokes, creating a sense of movement and ephemerality. This interplay between solidity and ethereality isn’t merely a study of textures; it’s a deliberate engagement with the structural dynamics of representation. The solid shoe, firmly grounded, anchors the composition. Meanwhile, the skirt seems almost to dissolve into the background. Consider how Altheim uses these contrasting techniques to destabilize the fixed meanings, values, or categories of how to depict clothing or the body. The choice to focus on such mundane details disrupts traditional expectations, transforming these objects into studies of form and materiality. The drawing’s enduring power lies in this exploration of the tension between what is solid and what is fleeting.