Standing Nude with Orange Drapery (recto): Study of Nude with Arms Raised (verso)

A lone figure stands before us in this striking watercolor, her body angled slightly, yet her gaze direct and unflinching. The orange drapery, loosely sketched and vibrant, seems to swirl around her, creating a dynamic contrast with the starkness of her form. Schiele uses a raw, expressive line to define the contours of her body, emphasizing the musculature and tension, particularly in her arms and shoulders. This isn't a classical ideal of beauty; instead, it's an intensely personal and psychological portrayal, characteristic of Expressionism, which sought to convey inner emotion rather than objective reality. The delicate washes of watercolor and gouache allow the paper's texture to show through, adding to the immediate, unpolished feel of the drawing, as if we are witnessing a private moment captured in haste.