Egon Schiele, Manner of (Austrian, 1890-1918) : Two Nude Women Embracing, ca 1913. Pencil and crayon on paper, signed and dated (1911) in the center. Verso shows decorative stamp. Unframed.
Compared to the highly charged and shockingly candid self-portraits and sketches of nude women he executed around this time, the style of the present work appears more conventional at first consideration. The contours of her body are obscured by her costume, which only reveals her hands and face, and it is through these features the intensity of this model is exposed. With her soft yet beautifully rendered lips and eyes, she confronts the viewer with an unflinching gaze. Although this portrait of a young girl does not display the open sexuality, the girl's features are rendered with a remarkable sensuality.
Egon Schiele was a leading figure of the Austrian Expressionist movement most well known for his emotionally and sexually-charged portraits and self-portraits. Schiele frequently drew himself or his sitters in the nude from unsettling angles and in revealing, erotic poses. His work boldly defies conventional norms of beauty and instead focuses on creating a raw, direct and often shocking depiction of his subject.

49 x 29.9 cm; 19 x 12.5 inches

Private collection England, Estate of Silvio Aguayo Espejo Vina del Mar Chile