In the early 20th century more and more erotic pictures were exhibited to the public usually provoking scandals. So Egon Schiele, too, was sentenced to prison for his erotic drawings.[1] Like a signal light attracting attention, the artist focuses the viewers' attention to the vaginal labia that the woman herself spread with both hands. The fact of the woman being active is new; usually women with exposed vulva are represented in passive way. The young woman is dreaming of meeting her lover and presents herself in an erotically loaded and inviting pose.

Biography: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Schiele

(Translation: K. Seifter)