Gewand und linker Arm der Sitzenden aus der _Vorbereitung zum Kostümball_ c. 1879 - 1880

Otto Scholderer sketched this study of drapery and a left arm in preparation for a costume ball. The drawing’s material, charcoal, is an interesting choice, because of its association with the ephemeral. It is literally burnt wood, the residue of a process of reduction. And Scholderer's application of the medium is quite varied here, from the almost photographic realism in the hand, with each bone and tendon delineated, to the generalized play of light and shadow on the sleeve. Charcoal as a medium is easily smudged and altered. This suggests a provisionality, as though the artist were thinking through the problem of representation right before our eyes. The apparent ease with which the drawing was created belies the labor and skill involved. Ultimately, this approach challenges traditional hierarchies, elevating the sketch to the level of a finished work of art.