The artwork titled “Composition sketch for Seated Old Woman” was crafted by Paula Modersohn-Becker in the year 1898. This piece falls under the Expressionism art movement and is classified as a sketch and study. The dimensions of the artwork are 26 x 40.3 cm.
The artwork showcases several sketches and studies of an elderly woman, with most attention focused on her seated in a chair. The central figure in the composition appears to be a faceless elderly woman, draped in dark clothing, who is sitting in a dignified, yet somber pose. Surrounding this central depiction are various studies of her profile, facial features, hands, and a full-body sketch of her walking or standing. The sketches appear to have been made with some sort of dark medium, most likely pencil or charcoal, capturing the different aspects of the subject with an intense and expressive line quality typical of Expressionism. The artwork gives an encompassing view of the artist’s process in capturing both the physical form and the deeper emotional essence of the old woman.
