Seated child 1918

Egon Schiele painted this seated child with oils, but the date of its making is currently unknown. Look closely at the backdrop, you can see how Schiele applied paint in these thick horizontal strokes, like he was building a wall with color. This method feels very intuitive and process-based, much like my own painting process. I'm drawn to the way he captures the essence of childhood vulnerability through the child's wide-eyed gaze and slightly awkward posture. The paint is applied thickly, almost roughly in places, which adds to the raw emotional feel of the work. I notice how the muted color palette creates a sense of melancholy. Look at the child's hands. See how they clasp a small object, maybe a flower? The detail and attention to the hands stands in contrast to the rest of the painting, making the hands stand out. Schiele's mark-making resonates with that of Gustav Klimt, his mentor and friend. And, like Klimt, there's a sense of exploring inner states through external representation, something that continues to fascinate artists today.