The artwork, titled “Myself in Brussels,” was created by Otto Dix in 1922. This piece, rendered in watercolor and pencil, is part of the Expressionism movement and falls under the genre of nude painting (nu) and self-portraiture.
In this evocative piece, a partially nude woman is depicted standing with her back towards the viewer, bracing herself against a wall, illuminated by a yellowish light that accentuates her form. Her posture is casual, yet assertive, suggesting both vulnerability and strength. To the left of the composition, a man in military attire, likely a self-portrait of the artist, gazes at the woman with a cigarette in his mouth. The contrasting emotions and the use of muted, yet striking colors imbue the artwork with a raw intensity characteristic of the Expressionist movement. The delicate blending of watercolor and the definitive pencil lines create a juxtaposition between fluidity and structure, further enhancing the poignant atmosphere of the scene.
