The artwork “Seated Woman with Her Left Hand in Her Hair” is a creation by artist Egon Schiele in 1914, exhibited in Vienna, Austria. The medium employed is watercolor on paper. This piece is indicative of the Expressionist movement and is categorized as a portrait. The artwork is part of the collection at the Albertina in Vienna, Austria.
Depicting a female figure, the artwork exudes a raw and emotional energy that is characteristic of Schiele’s work. The woman is seated, her posture contorted, with her left hand running through her hair, giving the viewer a sense of her inward psychological state. The use of watercolor permits a fluidity and translucency in the work, creating a sense of immediacy and vulnerability. Schiele’s line work is dynamic, with the figure’s body outlined in a confident, yet erratic manner, which adds to the emotional intensity of the piece.
The color palette is fairly muted, consisting of earthy tones, with pops of red and blue, perhaps to accentuate certain features and elements of the subject’s form. The woman’s expression is somewhat elusive, inviting contemplation about her thoughts or mood. The overall effect is deeply expressive, making the viewer acutely aware of the subject’s presence and the artist’s ability to capture the depth of human emotion.
