Standing Girl, Back View 1908

Egon Schiele made this drawing of a girl’s back view with crayon on paper; it’s now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition is immediately striking for its simplification of form and bold use of color. Schiele employs a limited palette: the bright blue of the girl's dress and hat contrasts sharply with the orange of her hair and the flesh of her legs, creating a visual tension that is both captivating and unsettling. The back view of the figure, devoid of facial expression, positions us as observers, inviting speculation about her thoughts and emotions. Schiele was interested in stripping away conventional representation. Notice how the lines are purposefully disjointed and angular, contributing to a sense of emotional rawness. This reflects a broader artistic concern at the time with challenging fixed perspectives. The crude marks and seemingly unfinished quality of the drawing are not accidental, but a deliberate choice by Schiele to reject traditional artistic conventions and embrace a more direct, visceral mode of expression. Ultimately, Schiele’s drawing invites us to consider how art can disrupt established visual norms and engage with deeper psychological and philosophical questions.