“Stop to observe the direct, almost unsettling gaze of this seated woman. Her twisted pose and the stark lines of the drawing offer a glimpse into the raw emotional intensity characteristic of Expressionism.”
A woman sits, her body slightly twisted, gazing directly out at us from this graphite drawing. She wears a chemise, a simple undergarment, which slips off one shoulder, revealing the curve of her collarbone and breast. Her hands are clasped loosely in her lap, and her posture, while direct, also conveys a sense of vulnerability. The artist, Egon Schiele, was part of the Expressionist movement, a style that prioritized emotional impact over objective reality. Here, the stark lines and minimal detail emphasize the figure's inner state rather than a literal depiction. The raw intensity of her gaze and the almost angular quality of her form are hallmarks of this period, drawing the viewer into a psychological encounter rather than a mere observation.
- Artist
- Egon Schiele
- Date
- 1914
- Medium
- Graphite on paper
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- 18 × 12 1/4 in. (45.7 × 31.1 cm)
- Collection
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Credit line
- Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The way the chemise slips off her left shoulder, exposing skin.
Her hands, clasped loosely, resting in her lap.
The intense, direct gaze from her eyes.
The angular quality of her elbows and knees.
1 more detail is waiting.
See all 5 in Art Whisper →Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Seated Woman in Chemise — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Egon Schiele
1890–1918 · CisleithaniaEgon Schiele, an Austrian Expressionist, captured raw human emotion and twisted forms, often in stark self-portraits.
Further Works by Schiele
Crouching Nude in Shoes and Black Stockings, Back View
1912 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Standing Nude with Orange Drapery (recto): Study of Nude with Arms Raised (verso)
1914 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Street Cart
1914 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Seated Woman, Back View
1917 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Standing Girl, Back View
1908 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Observed in a Dream
1911 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Seminude with Arms Raised
1914 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Woman Buttoning Her Shoes (recto); Study for Reclining Nude with Arms Raised (verso)
1915 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More from Expressionism
More works to explore
Beyond Schiele and Expressionism: works from the same years, and from the other movements Seated Woman in Chemise belongs to.
Same movement · Vienna Secession
Maude Adams (1872–1953) as Joan of Arc
Alphonse Mucha · 1909 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray
Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same movement · Die Brucke
Frauenkopf vor Sonnenblumen
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1906 · Museum Frieder Burda
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Street Scene (Friedrichstraße Berlin)
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1914 · Staatsgalerie Stuttgart
Same movement · Der Blaue Reiter
Still Life with Crayfish
Mikhail Larionov · 1900 · Museum Ludwig
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Bull's Head
Mikhail Larionov · 1913 · Tretyakov Gallery
Same movement · Jugendstil
Portrait of a Lady in a High Hat
Gustav Klimt · 1882 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Memories of the Past
Ivan Puni · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
The Magic Foot-ball, 'I thought you were wrong,' he said in triumph. 'You said it was nine! Stupid!'
Norman Rockwell · 1914 · Norman Rockwell Museum
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Irises
Claude Monet · 1915 · National Gallery
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Man with a Pipe
Pablo Picasso · 1915 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Sirmione
John Singer Sargent · 1913 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Still Life with Glass, Dice, Newspaper and Playing Card
Georges Braque · 1913 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Apples
Henri Matisse · 1916 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Dada Gauguin
Max Ernst · 1920 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Schoolhouse
Paul Klee · 1920 · Art Institute of Chicago




