“The Artist’s Sister in Law in a Striped Dress” is a portrait crafted by Egon Schiele in 1917, amidst the fertile artistic landscape of Vienna, Austria. The artwork, executed using watercolor on paper, is an exemplar of the Expressionist movement, both in its style and emotive force. Currently held in the collections of the Albertina in Vienna, Austria, this piece stands as a significant contribution to the genre of portraiture within the era.
The artwork features a figure, presumed to be Schiele’s sister-in-law, attired in a black and white striped dress that draws the eye through the use of contrasting patterns and textiles. Her pose is introspective and somewhat candid, with her hands gently clasped together and resting upon the fabric of her garment. Schiele’s use of loose, expressive lines and muted colors gives the work an air of vulnerability, which is exacerbated by the focused gaze and slightly tilted head of the sitter. The reddish hues of the subject’s hair add warmth to the composition, creating a focal point at the top of the portrait that balances the linear qualities of the dress. The background is sparsely adorned, allowing the viewer to remain engaged with the intricacies of the figure and her attire, encapsulating the emotional depth characteristic of Schiele’s Expressionist milieu.
