Egon Schiele:
Standing semi‑nude (Stehender Halbakt), 1917
Crayon on paper
46 × 29.6 cm
Auctioned at Sotheby’s, London, in 2007 for 819,000 GBP
(Kallir d1954)

Standing semi‑nude reflects the clarity and assurance that define Schiele’s drawings from 1917. The figure is built from long, confident strokes that show how fully he had settled into his late style. The crayon line moves with ease — sometimes firm, sometimes lighter — giving the body a sense of volume without relying on colour. The pose feels steady and inward, and the sheet carries the quiet concentration that marks much of his work from this period.

The auction note points out how characteristic this is of Schiele’s final years, drawing on Jane Kallir’s observation that he had “finally found the perfect line,” often capturing an entire contour in “a single, virtually unbroken sweep of his crayon.” Her comments about his interest in the act of drawing itself — the shaping of form, the small interior loops, the accuracy of his observation — are all visible here. The firm line of the sitter’s jaw, the long curve of her arm, and the lightly suggested fall of her hair show how much he could express with minimal means. Even the simple indication of her clothing, barely described, still conveys texture and movement.

The auction note also addresses the shift in Schiele’s late depictions of women. The model’s partially removed dress and exposed breasts introduce a provocative element, yet her gaze is turned away, and her sensuality feels self‑contained rather than directed outward. Kallir’s writes, quoted in the note, describes how by 1917–18 Schiele’s women “own their sexuality,” appearing as independent individuals rather than projections of the artist’s desire. That sense of autonomy is clear here: the drawing balances openness and reserve, directness and distance.

In Standing semi‑nude, Schiele’s late style feels unforced and attentive. The sheet shows how much he could achieve with a single line, and how closely he observed the people who sat for him — a quality the auction note captures well and which this drawing makes easy to see.