On the Beach, Moonlight 1907

This is On the Beach, Moonlight by Egon Schiele, made with gouache and pencil. Schiele's mark-making has an obsessive quality, with nervous, wiry lines defining the figure. The color palette is surprisingly restrained for Schiele, dominated by earthy tones and muted shades. But look closely at the skirt. See how those thin, vertical lines create a sense of movement, like the fabric is flowing in the breeze? It's almost as if Schiele is trying to capture not just the appearance of the skirt but its very essence, its weight, and texture. The way Schiele uses color here reminds me a little of Gustav Klimt, who was a huge influence on him. But while Klimt was all about opulence and ornamentation, Schiele strips things down to their bare essentials. There's a raw, unvarnished quality to his work. It feels honest, even vulnerable. It's the kind of painting that invites you to slow down, to linger, and to really see.