The life and work of Egon Schiele

Egon Schiele's parents and siblings

Egon Leo Adolf Ludwig Schiele was born on June 12, 1890 as the third child of Adolf Eugen Schiele, stationmaster of the local railroad station, and his wife Marie Schiele, née Soukup, in Tulln an der Donau in Lower Austria. He had three sisters, Melanie, Gertrude and Elvira. The latter, however, died of meningitis at the age of 10.

Childhood and youth in Tulln and Krems

Egon Schiele spent his childhood and youth in Tulln an der Donau and later in Krems and Klosterneuburg. He showed great interest in art from a young age and began to draw his surroundings.

Discovery of artistic talent in Klosterneuburg

Schiele's artistic talent was recognized and encouraged by Wolfgang Pauker and Ludwig Karl Strauch, the religion and drawing teachers at the Klosterneuburg grammar school, as well as by the Klosterneuburg painter Max Kahrer. With their support, Schiele received his first artistic training.

Application to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts

In 1906, the young Schiele applied to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and was "brilliantly" accepted with great praise. At the age of 16, Schiele was the youngest student of his year.

Entry into the Viennese art scene through the Neukunstgruppe

After increasing tensions with his teacher Christian Griepenkerl, a conservative painter committed to historicism, Schiele left the academy in 1909 and founded the Neukunstgruppe (New Art Group) with fellow students and a few like-minded people who wanted to distinguish themselves from the older generation of artists and their traditional themes. The group was an important platform for young artists to present their work to the public and make contacts. Through the Neukunstgruppe, Schiele was able to gain a foothold as a young artist in Vienna.

The pioneering acquaintance and friendship with Gustav Klimt

Around 1907, Schiele met the important Viennese artist Gustav Klimt, who was a European superstar at the time. Klimt impressed Schiele with his art, the incredible success of his works and exhibitions as well as his fatherly, friendly style, with which he accompanied the younger generation of artists. Klimt became Schiele's mentor and the two developed a close relationship. Klimt supported Schiele in his exhibitions, provided him with important contacts in the art world and helped him to sell his works. Even though Schiele soon developed his own artistic style, his friendship with Klimt remained formative for him.

Turning point to the expressionist style

Egon Schiele's early work was still strongly influenced by naturalism. In 1908 and 1909, he moved closer to the work of Gustav Klimt, later saying himself that he had "gone through Klimt". In 1910, Schiele turned to Expressionism and developed his very own, unmistakable style. Groundbreaking works were created.

Artistic influence of Gustav Klimt and Vincent van Gogh

Schiele's encounter with Gustav Klimt had a decisive influence on his artistic development. He adopted the decorative aspect in his early works from Klimt. Vincent van Gogh's influence can also be clearly seen in Schiele's works. Van Gogh shared with Schiele a love of the motif of sunflowers and their pictorial representation in bright colors.

Self-discovery and borderline experiences in art

Schiele's work is often characterized by borderline experiences and the search for the self. He frequently thematized the human body, especially himself and the female nude. Schiele's depictions of people often appear fragile and vulnerable, especially in his self-portraits, the artist shows extreme experiences of his own existence.

Membership of the Association of Austrian Artists

In 1913, Schiele became a member of the Association of Austrian Artists, whose president was Gustav Klimt. In the same year, he exhibited his works at various exhibitions in Austria, Germany and Hungary. Initially controversially received by critics, Schiele was admired and appreciated by many artists of his time. Today, Schiele is one of the most important representatives of Austrian Expressionism.

Marriage to Edith Harms and break-up with Wally Neuzil

In 1915, Schiele was called up for military service and married his longtime girlfriend Edith Harms shortly before his transfer to Prague. The marriage forced Schiele to separate from Wally. Major works of art history reveal how difficult this separation was for Schiele.

Military service and artistic occupation as a military draughtsman

Egon Schiele was drafted into military service in 1915. He had to interrupt his artistic career. Despite his military obligations - for example in Mühling near Wieselburg - he managed to work as an artist on a small scale. He created numerous nature studies and portraits of soldiers. Whether they were Austrian officers or Russian prisoners of war made no difference to Schiele.

Return to Vienna and further exhibitions

In 1917, Schiele was transferred to Vienna. Here he was able to devote himself to his artistic work again and showed his works in various exhibitions. He was quickly recognized again for his unusual and provocative works and as an important representative of Viennese Modernism.

Death from the Spanish flu at the age of 28

In 1918, the Spanish flu broke out in Vienna. Edith Schiele, who was six months pregnant, succumbed to the disease on October 28. Egon Schiele was also infected and died on October 31, 1918 at the age of just 28. His death was a great loss to the art world. Despite his short life, he had a great influence on modern art and his works are still of great importance today.

Influence on the art world and modernism

Schiele's art is characterized by his personal style, which approaches the human image in a new way. His new, expressionist style no longer shows the sovereignty of the individual, but his despair. For Schiele, nudity was something natural and normal, in complete contrast to the perception of his contemporaries, who saw it as a scandal. Schiele's landscapes are full of symbols; flowers and trees appear like people in his paintings.

Legacy and reception of his works

Schiele's legacy and his works are still present today. They are exhibited worldwide and honored in numerous publications. Schiele is regarded as one of the most important artists of the 20th century and his works are prized by collectors and art lovers. In the contemporary art scene, Schiele's work continues to be of great importance and is considered a source of inspiration for many artists. His unique way of expression and his personal style are still admired and imitated today.

The "Grimacing Nude Self-Portrait" of 1910 was created in the year in which Schiele produced most of his self-portraits and found his way to Expressionism. Many of these works were created looking into a mirror.

Other important paintings

1 Death and Girl (1915)
2. self-portrait with lantern flower (1912)
3. squatting female nude (1910)
4 Cardinal and Nun (Caress) (1912)
5. mother with two children II (1915)
6 Crouching Human Couple (The Family) (1918)
7 Houses with Colorful Laundry (Suburb II) (1914)
8 Dead City III (City on the Blue River III) (1911)
9 Portrait of Gertrude Schiele (1909)
10. embrace (Lovers II) (1917)