The artwork titled “Reclining Woman with Green Stockings” was created by the artist Egon Schiele in 1917. This work was executed using gouache and black crayon on paper, embodying the principles of Expressionism. The artwork’s dimensions are 11 5/8 x 18 1/8 inches (29.4 x 46 cm), it is considered a genre painting, and is currently held in a private collection. The creation of this piece took place in Vienna, Austria.
The artwork showcases a woman in a reclined position, her body twisted and limbs overlapping in a manner that is evocative of the expressive line work and distorted forms characteristic of Schiele’s style. The woman’s gaze seems to engage directly with the viewer, adding to the intimate and candid quality of the work. Her stockings are colored in a deep, rich green, which contrasts with the natural tones of her skin and the muted background. Schiele’s use of gouache provides a vivid, opaque coloration, and his black crayon lines delineate the contours of the woman’s body with an intense and dynamic energy.
The work’s depiction of the human figure, while evocative and expressive, bypasses idealized standards of beauty often found in the traditional academic art of the time. Instead, Schiele’s approach is raw and unfiltered, capturing the essence of the subject through exaggerated forms and an emotionally charged technique. The viewer may perceive this as a depiction not only of the exterior likeness but also of the interior emotional state of the subject, a hallmark of the Expressionist movement.
