Artwork
Head of a Woman
Head of a Woman is a pastel drawing by Egon Schiele. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1908, *Head of a Woman* is a drawing by Austrian artist Egon Schiele. Executed with conté crayon and soft pastel on a buff‑coloured paper mounted on board, the work measures a modest size and presents a side view of a female head and shoulder. The composition is rendered in muted earth tones, with a focus on line and shadow rather than colouristic richness.
Subject & Meaning
The pose and gesture hint at an inner tension, inviting viewers to consider the subject’s inner life beyond the surface.
The image captures a woman’s profile, her hand supporting her chin as if caught in a moment of contemplation. Schiele’s treatment of the facial features—darkened under‑eye shadows, a loosely suggested hairline, and a slightly distorted proportion—conveys a psychological intensity typical of his early figurative studies. The pose and gesture hint at an inner tension, inviting viewers to consider the subject’s inner life beyond the surface.
Technique & Style
Schiele employed conté crayon for precise, angular strokes and layered soft pastels for tonal depth, allowing the medium’s buttery quality to build subtle gradients. The textured buff paper, adhered to board, absorbs the pigments, creating a slightly rough, unfinished appearance. The drawing’s line work is characteristic of Schiele’s early expressionist approach: jagged, expressive, and deliberately uneven, emphasizing emotional resonance over anatomical exactness.
History & Provenance
The piece originates from Schiele’s formative period, shortly after his apprenticeship under Gustav Klimt, whose influence on Viennese figurative painting was profound. While specific ownership records are limited, the drawing is documented as part of Schiele’s prolific output of studies produced in 1908, a year that marked his transition toward a more personal, expressive visual language.
Artist & collection
Artist
Egon Leo Adolf Ludwig Schiele (German: ; 12 June 1890 – 31 October 1918) was an Austrian Expressionist painter.
