Artwork
Dancer (Die Tänzerin)
Dancer (Die Tänzerin) is a gouache drawing by Egon Schiele. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1913, *Dancer (Die Tänzerin)* is a drawing by Austrian artist Egon Schiele. Executed on wove paper with a combination of watercolor, gouache and graphite, the work exemplifies Schiele’s early involvement with the Expressionist movement, showcasing his characteristic emphasis on line and form.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a solitary female figure caught in a moment of motion, her posture elongated and slightly contorted. Through this stylized pose, Schiele explores themes of bodily tension and the fleeting nature of performance, aligning the dancer’s physicality with his broader interest in the vulnerability of the human body.
Technique & Style
Schiele builds the image in layers, beginning with graphite sketches that define the figure’s skeletal structure. Over these lines he applies watercolor washes for subtle tonal variation, then reinforces key contours with opaque gouache, creating stark contrasts. The resulting surface is marked by the angular, exaggerated lines that are hallmarks of his personal visual language.
Context
At the time of its creation, Schiele was emerging from the tutelage of Gustav Klimt, whose decorative motifs and ornamental approach left an imprint on his pupil. While Klimt’s influence is evident in the decorative treatment of the background, Schiele departs by intensifying the figure’s psychological presence through distortion and raw expressiveness.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the public record through early 20th‑century exhibitions of Schiele’s work and has since been included in several catalogues raisonnés. Its documented ownership traces back to private collections in Vienna before being acquired by a European museum specializing in early modernist drawings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Egon Leo Adolf Ludwig Schiele (German: ; 12 June 1890 – 31 October 1918) was an Austrian Expressionist painter.
