Stehende am Stuhl aus der _Vorbereitung zum Kostümball_ c. 1879 - 1880

Otto Scholderer created this drawing with graphite, titled ‘Stehende am Stuhl aus der _Vorbereitung zum Kostümball_’ which translates to Standing by the chair from _Preparation for the Costume Ball_, now at the Städel Museum. Observe how the soft graphite strokes delicately define the figure of a woman in classical drapery. The lines are gentle, creating a sense of lightness and fragility. The composition is sparse; the negative space around the figure emphasizes her solitude. This is a study, a preliminary sketch. Consider how the artist explores the textures of fabric through subtle gradations of tone and shading. Scholderer destabilizes the clear distinction between finished work and preparatory sketch. In his time, academic art demanded a high level of finish, yet here, the process is revealed. By showing the preliminary stages, the artist makes visible the act of creation itself, inviting us to consider the origins and development of artistic form. It’s a celebration of the process.