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Lot Essay
Executed in the black crayon that distinguishes many of Schiele's works from 1917, Stehendes Mädchen mit Hut is one of a sequence of remarkable drawings of his model undressing. The figure shown here beginning to remove her undergarments while still sporting a hat, bears a close resemblance to one of the Harms sisters.
Schiele had married the younger of the two Harms sisters, Edith, in June 1915, and remained close to her elder sister Adele, whom he also used as a model, often confusing the features of one sister with that of the other in his work. This intentional confusing was perhaps made intentionally in order to spare the blushes of his wife Edith who often was required to deliver Schiele's drawings to his clients. Adele Harms, who also modelled nude for Schiele, later claimed to have had an affair with the artist at this time, but her reminiscences are known to be very unreliable.
Schiele had married the younger of the two Harms sisters, Edith, in June 1915, and remained close to her elder sister Adele, whom he also used as a model, often confusing the features of one sister with that of the other in his work. This intentional confusing was perhaps made intentionally in order to spare the blushes of his wife Edith who often was required to deliver Schiele's drawings to his clients. Adele Harms, who also modelled nude for Schiele, later claimed to have had an affair with the artist at this time, but her reminiscences are known to be very unreliable.