Seated Young Girl 1910

Egon Schiele made this painting of a young girl, we don't know when or with what, but let's imagine. You can see the hand of the artist, how it came into being, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. I sympathize with Schiele, imagining what it might have been like to create this vulnerable image. You can see how the material aspects of painting, such as the color, surface, and the physicality of the medium, shape our experience of the painting and contribute to its emotional and intellectual resonance. The girl's hands are clasped in front of her, the gesture communicating so much feeling, intention, and meaning. Thinking about the physicality of his process and how he captures this young girl makes me think about other painters like Jenny Saville. Schiele and other painters are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. Painting is a form of embodied expression, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.