The artwork titled “Sleeping Child” was created by artist Egon Schiele in 1910, within the geographical confines of what is now known as the Czech Republic. Schiele employed the use of gouache, pencil, and paper as his medium to manifest this piece, which is classified under the genre of ‘sketch and study’. It belongs to the influential art movement known as Expressionism. Currently, the work is held in a private collection, indicating that it is not on public display.
The artwork embodies a distinctively expressive style, a hallmark of Schiele’s artistic approach. The subject, presumed to be a child in a state of repose, is rendered with a bold and somewhat abstracted use of line and color. Schiele’s choice of gouache gives the colors a notable intensity and texture that stands out against the neutral background of the paper. The contours and color application are vigorous and seemingly spontaneous, contributing to a sense of immediacy and emotional resonance. Despite the work being a study, it exhibits a completeness in capturing the essence of the subject and the emotive undercurrents that Schiele is renowned for. The delineation of the child’s form is surrounded by a white outline, setting the figure apart from the untouched backdrop, which may suggest an unfinished aspect to the study or a deliberate choice to emphasize the subject.
