Weiblicher Halbakt II 1942

Karl Wiener made this drawing, Weiblicher Halbakt II, in 1942, and what strikes me is how the colored pencil becomes more than just a drawing tool; it’s like he’s sculpting with it. The hatching feels almost urgent. Look at the blue of that drapery; it's so vibrant. You can feel the texture of the paper coming through, giving it a raw, almost unfinished quality. And then there's the figure itself, rendered in these unexpected yellows and oranges, with just a hint of pink. There’s a tension between the sort of classical subject matter and the intensity of the mark making which is really compelling. I love the way the lines create form. It reminds me a little of Egon Schiele, in its directness and vulnerability. Both artists embrace a kind of raw expressiveness that feels very human, very real. In the end, this drawing isn't just about the figure, it's about the act of seeing, feeling, and translating that onto paper.