Seated Female Nude, 1908

The work shows a female nude sitting in front of a mirror in a relaxed pose. With her rounded shoulders, her arms hanging down and her crossed feet, the model’s stance does not correspond to the seductive ideal. Rather, the work conveys a familiar, unexcited atmosphere. The artist dispensed with a detailed rendering of the woman’s body and face, while the background, too, is merely hinted at with swift brushstrokes. This work was one of the last paintings Richard Gerstl (1883–1908) created prior to his suicide on 4th November 1908, for which he used an already painted canvas. The reverse side shows the completed painting Portrait of a Young Woman in a Light Blue Dress with a Plumed Hat, executed using various degrees of Pointillism. While the identity of the model is unknown, the female nude on the front is believed to be Mathilde Schönberg (1877–1923). She secretly visited Gerstl in his new studio which he had only moved into on 18th October. The use of an already painted canvas, the choice of tempera – which dries much more quickly than oil paint – and the rapid execution all indicate that the artist was under time pressure and fearful of being discovered.

AK, 2022