Damenbildnis mit Hut im Profil nach links 1859

Otto Scholderer made this portrait of a woman in a hat using graphite on paper. The stark simplicity of this drawing medium is what gives the artwork its unique charm. The artist employs a direct and unpretentious approach, using the inherent qualities of graphite to capture the image of his sitter. You can see the marks made by his hand, the pressure and the direction of the lines, as he builds up the image from simple lines. The way the graphite is applied gives a sense of tonal variation and texture, delineating the sitter's profile, and creating a delicate contrast between light and shadow. It’s a drawing, and we can see the artist’s decisions as he works. We can see a direct connection to the artist’s hand and mind. This portrait demonstrates how the choice of materials and making processes can be essential for understanding the full meaning of an artwork, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.