Egon Schiele

Stehender Halbakt belongs to a series of drawings and gouaches depicting a semi-nude model (fig. 1) which Schiele executed in 1917 when he experimented with different poses and perspectives. In the present work, the female sitter is shown in a seductive and erotic pose. 'Pursuing the trend set in motion several years earlier', as Jane Kallir notes, 'Schiele's work becomes increasingly naturalistic over the course of 1917. Soft pencil gradually gives way to black crayon, which yields heavier, more even lines, that are less prone to the fluctuations in density and strength characteristic of pencil. The artist evinces a far greater economy of line, fixing his subjects in single, perfect strokes and avoiding the complicated retracing and doubling of earlier times. Simultaneously, Schiele demonstrates a greater interest in molding interiour contours with short, soft strokes. Arcs or tight loops now define principal volumes. On the whole, Schiele's palette is more subdued and naturalistic than before. It is apparent that he is less concerned with colour than with volume and shape, and increasingly he is driven to explore his subjects through drawing alone' (J. Kallir, op. cit., p. 567). The present work is a wonderful example of Schiele's brilliant draughtsmanship and his interest in rendering the shapes and forms of the female body.   

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Property from a Distinguished Private Collection

Some collections are mere chance aggregates of works of art, no more than the sum of their parts. But the Distinguished Private Collection that Sotheby's is honoured to present in its series of Impressionist and Modern Art auctions on 5-6 February 2007 is certainly not among these. Its internal cohesion, its choices and juxtapositions transcend the works themselves to offer intriguing insights into both the history of art and the mind of the collector.

Created during the seventies and eighties, this important ensemble sets off major figures of Impressionism and its precursors with fine examples of Expressionism and Post-War painting. An unerring eye for quality and the collectors' eclectic drive guided its growth, generating a unique perspective on such key themes as form, colour and the role of art. Further works from this collection will be offered in Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern Art Evening, Day and Works on Paper sales.