Woman Buttoning Her Shoes (recto); Study for Reclining Nude with Arms Raised (verso)

A woman sits hunched, her gaze directed downwards as she fastens the buttons on her shoe. Her body, rendered with stark charcoal lines, twists inward, creating a sense of quiet concentration and vulnerability. The artist uses the raw texture of the paper and the directness of charcoal to emphasize the figure's angularity and the intimate nature of the gesture. This drawing, created in 1915, captures a moment of everyday activity, yet imbues it with a psychological intensity characteristic of Expressionism. The figure’s exposed leg and the somewhat contorted pose suggest a deep engagement with the physical act, drawing the viewer into her private world. The simplicity of the medium allows for a focus on form and emotion, revealing the expressive potential of the human figure even in repose.