Egon Schiele:
Standing Girl in White Petticoat, 1911(Stehendes Mädchen in Weissem Unterkleid)
gouache, watercolor and pencil on paper
55 x 37.1 cm (21 ⅝ by 14 ⅝ in.)
Auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2022 for about 1,6 million USD
(Kallir d816)

In Egon Schiele’s 1911 drawing Stehendes Mädchen in Weißem Unterkleid, a young girl stands facing the viewer, her eyes locked in a direct, intense stare. Her expression is hard to read—somewhere between curious, guarded, and bold. It feels like she’s been caught in the middle of getting dressed or undressed, a moment Schiele often explored in his work, though rarely with this kind of emotional punch.

The colors spill outside the lines of her body, creating a soft white glow around her. This “body halo” shows up in many of Schiele’s early drawings. It helps place her on the empty page, but also gives her a kind of quiet power—like she’s more than just a physical figure. There’s something ghostly about her, something that lingers.

But then, Schiele adds sharp red tones to her skin. It’s a jolt—a reminder that she’s real, alive, and vulnerable. That mix of pale and red makes her feel both distant and close, like she’s caught between being a spirit and a person with flesh, feelings, and flaws.

What makes this drawing so gripping is the tension. She’s still, but her presence is strong. Her eyes don’t just look at you—they challenge you. The blank background makes her stand out even more, like she’s floating in space, yet totally grounded.

Schiele’s lines are rough and honest. Nothing is polished, and that’s what makes it powerful. It’s not just a portrait—it’s a moment that pulls you in and makes you feel something.