Accession Number
27879
Medium
Charcoal on tan wove paper
Dimensions
44.9 × 31.4 cm (17 11/16 × 12 3/8 in.)
Classification
charcoal
Credit Line
Purchased with funds provided by Mr. William H. Schab, Mr. and Mrs. William O. Hunt and Prints and Drawings Purchase Account
Background & Context
Background Story
Oskar Kokoschka's The Savoyard Boy (c. 1912) is a charcoal drawing on tan wove paper depicting a young boy, likely a Savoyard, a term for people from the Savoy region of France. Kokoschka's treatment is characteristically expressive, the charcoal lines energetic and searching, capturing the character and vitality of the young subject. The tan wove paper provides a warm ground.
Cultural Impact
Kokoschka was a leading figure in Austrian Expressionism, known for his psychologically intense portraits.
Why It Matters
This charcoal portrait of a young Savoyard boy captures the vitality and character of its subject with Kokoschka's expressive line.
