Stehende Frau (Dirne) (1912) Art Print | Egon Schiele

Egon Schiele was one of the most provocative and emotionally intense artists of early 20th-century Austria. A key figure in Expressionism, Schiele is best known for his raw, angular portraits, erotic and psychologically charged nudes, and haunting self-portraits that reveal the turbulence of the human condition.

Born in Tulln, Austria, Schiele showed an early talent for drawing and entered the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts at just 16. However, his unconventional style and fascination with the human form soon put him at odds with academic traditions. He found a mentor in Gustav Klimt, who helped Schiele enter avant-garde artistic circles and encouraged his exploration of sensuality, symbolism, and the inner psyche.

Schiele’s work is characterized by distorted anatomy, elongated limbs, and stark, expressive linework. His figures often appear vulnerable, tense, and emotionally exposed—trapped between desire and despair. While controversial in his time for their eroticism, his drawings and paintings are now recognized for their deep psychological insight and revolutionary honesty.

Tragically, Schiele’s life and career were cut short when he died at age 28 during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, just days after his pregnant wife passed away. Despite his short life, he produced over 3,000 works on paper and nearly 300 paintings, leaving behind a powerful legacy that continues to influence generations of artists.

Egon Schiele’s art remains visceral and uncompromising—a piercing reflection of the self, the body, and the emotional turmoil of the modern soul.