Männlicher Akt 1912

This is a figure study by Egon Schiele, made with watercolor on paper. Just imagine how the artist started with a light pencil sketch, followed by washes of diluted watercolor, building up the color and tone in layers. I can almost feel him working, starting with the outline and then the slow build of colour. He must have been so focused, his hand moving with intention and sensitivity. I think of the way the transparent watercolor gives the body such a delicate appearance, as though it's emerging from the paper itself. It's like he’s not just depicting a body, but also exploring the vulnerability and fragility of human existence, and the history of painting too. Schiele knew, like many artists do, that art-making is an act of empathy, a way of connecting with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.