The artwork titled “Seated child” was created by the artist Egon Schiele in 1918, with its origins tracing back to Vienna, Austria. This expressionist piece was painted using oil on canvas and measures at 100.5 by 70.5 centimeters. As a portrait, the artwork embodies the emotional intensity associated with Expressionism, a movement that sought to convey subjective experiences rather than attempting to replicate objective reality. The current whereabouts of this piece is within a Private Collection.
The artwork features a young child sitting in an unembellished and straightforward pose, perhaps on a wooden chair. The child, whose gender is not distinctly identified in the painting, gazes directly at the viewer with an expression that may be read as contemplative or somewhat guarded. The background of the artwork is minimalistic, consisting of vertical stripes that could suggest a wall or a screen behind the seated figure.
Schiele’s use of color and form is characteristic of his style, with earthy tones dominating the palette and a strong emphasis on line work to delineate the contours of the child’s face, body, and clothing. The brushstrokes are visible and bold, contributing both texture and a sense of dynamism to the depiction. The attention to the subject’s nuanced facial expression and the hands positioned near the chest enhance the emotional impact and the psychological depth of the portrait.
In summary, “Seated child” is a striking expressionist portrait by Egon Schiele that captures a moment of introspection or introspective intensity, reflecting the artist’s fascination with the human condition, conveyed through his distinctive and emotive painterly techniques.
