Reclining Woman with Raised Skirt

• Egon Schiele (1890–1918)
• 1912
• Pencil on paper
• Leopold Museum, Vienna

The model is lying on her back, one leg bent with her head resting on the raised right arm, and looking at the viewer with an attentive gaze. Egon Schiele outlined the clothing with soft, carefully interrupted pencil lines. By repeating the lines in some places, he was able to describe various materials differently. He has focused on the model’s face and the legs to balance the composition. Her delicately elaborated “speaking eyes” leave the viewer curious about her intentions.